Brazil' striker Kaka (R) fights for the ball with Robinho as goalkeeper Doni (C) looks on. - AFP Photo
Brazil vs Chile
A quick look at the form book might have Chile wondering if it is worth turning up for their World Cup second round game against Brazil on Monday.
Chile have suffered an extraordinarily bad run against the Brazilians in the last five years, losing seven matches in a row and shipping 26 goals in the process.
The have also lost their only two World Cup meetings against Brazil — 4-2 in the semi-finals at the 1962 World Cup, which they hosted, and 4-1 in the second round at France in 1998.
Coach Marcelo Bielsa has revolutionised the team in his three years in charge, transforming them from one of the worst on the continent into one of the best, but even he knows they face a huge task against the five-times world champions.
“The things that Brazil have done in the past exempts them from any sort of comment,” said the eccentric and enigmatic Argentine.
“They are always a team to be feared and this latest version preserves all the footballing attributes of the country and, in addition, adds speed and ruthlessness.”
Chile’s losing sequence began with a 1-0 defeat in a Copa America group match in 2004 followed by a 5-0 loss in a World Cup qualifier the following year.
Two years later, Chile were beaten 4-0 in a friendly and were thrashed twice at the Copa America, 3-0 in a group match and 6-1 in the quarter-finals.
The latter humiliation caused the downfall of coach Nelson Acosta who was replaced by Bielsa.
EASY PREY
Although he orchestrated a spectacular improvement in fortunes, he was unable to inspire his team to a win over Brazil and they lost both World Cup qualifiers, 3-0 at home and 4-2 away.
Brazil thrive against teams who attack them and Chile fit the bill perfectly.
A fast, attacking but somewhat lightweight team, Chile tend to be easy prey for the physically powerful Brazilians and, in their enthusiasm to pour forward, leave gaps at the back which are usually ruthlessly exploited by Brazil’s forwards.
If that is not worrying enough, Chile will be without their two regular defenders with Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce suspended.
Bielsa has to decide whether to field Humberto Suazo, who is struggling for match fitness, up front or stick with Jorge Valdivia, who played as a forward in the 2-1 defeat by Spain.
Felipe Melo is very doubtful for Brazil but that is unlikely to be a problem for Dunga’s team, whose squad is overflowing with midfield spoilers.
Elano is fit to return on the right of midfield after missing the last group match against Portugal with an ankle injury.
Former World Player of the Year Kaka will also be back after suspension and Robinho, rested for Friday’s match with Portugal, should play, adding much-needed creativity to a generally lacklustre Brazilian team.
Brazil regularly complain that opponents shut up shop against them but Chile’s former Argentina boss Bielsa is a bold coach and it is in his nature to send his teams onto the attack, whoever they are facing.
He will, however, need to have a real surprise up his sleeve if his side are going to upset the five-times champions.
Netherlands vs Slovakia
Netherlands striker Dirk Kuyt believes any complacency towards their surprise World Cup second round opponents Slovakia will be kept in check by their fiercest critics — themselves.
Slovakia’s stunning 3-2 upset of holders Italy on Thursday would have been warning enough to the Dutch that their return to the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday (1400 GMT) will not be as easy as the two teams’ pedigrees would suggest.
Although Netherlands and Argentina were the only sides to win all three group matches, the Dutch have yet to dazzle anyone and are determined to keep their feet on the ground.
“This squad is filled with self-criticism as it always can be better and has to be better,” Kuyt told reporters this week.
“We only do things step-by-step and when we have a lesser day, we turn to our organisation and then we can also survive.”
Flying winger Arjen Robben made an immediate impact on his return from injury with a substitute appearance in the last group match against Cameroon in which he set up the winner.
That gives coach Bert van Marwijk a full squad to choose from to face the Slovakians, although Robben is again likely to start on the bench.
Gregory van der Wiel should return at right back after being replaced by Khalid Boulahrouz for the Cameroon match to avoid the risk of a second booking.
At stake in sunny Durban is a quarter-final against Brazil or Chile and Slovakia know they will have produce another huge performance to claim a place in the last eight.
“We haven’t got anything to lose in this match. The Netherlands are the big favourites. We just want to do the same as we did against Italy,” defender Peter Pekarik told Reuters.
Coach Vladimir Weiss is not surprisingly likely to keep faith with the players that beat the world champions including Miroslav Stoch and Juraj Kucka, who transformed a team that had managed just one shot on target in the 2-0 defeat by Paraguay.
Weiss will have to make at least one change with Zdeno Strba suspended and Kamil Kopunek is likely to replace him in the defensive midfield role.
Having produced his country’s finest footballing moment in their first major tournament as an independent nation with attacking endeavour, Weiss suggested he would again encourage his team to take the game to the Dutch.
“Now we are heroes. There is euphoria in Slovakia, it’s unbelievable. We are so happy,” he told reporters. “Maybe we will play more offensively against Holland.”
