Brazil v Chile Betting Preview

Home

Written by James Beckett Saturday, 26 June 2010 16:03

Brazil meet Chile in an all South American clash which could prove to be one the best betting games of the World Cup so far. We all know about Brazil's reputation for quality football, but Chile have been just as entertaining, if not more entertaining so far in South Africa, and if the two teams perform it could be a real treat at Soccer City.

Five time winners Brazil will go in to the game as favourites following their comfortable progression from the group stage. Brazil followed up wins over North Korea and the Ivory Coast with a lacklustre draw with Portugal, but in truth Dunga's side only did was required against the Portuguese.

But now Dunga will be looking a vast improvement, following scathing reviews of his methods in the Brazilian media. He will however be able to call upon playmaker and star man Kaka, who missed the game against Portugal through suspension.

Kaka will probably come back in to the side for Villarreal forward Nilmar, who replaced him in the draw with Portugal. Elsewhere Dunga will be hoping Elano can shake of an ankle injury and come back in to the side. The former Manchester City man has scored in both his games so far, and if fit will probably replace Dani Alves.

Otherwise Brazil will probably stick with the same side that took on Portugal, Dunga will deploy his two defensive midfielders Gilberto Silva and Felipe Melo, allowing flying fullbacks Maicon and Michel Bastos to push on, and with the likes of Robinho and Luis Fabiano in attack there is always a threat.

Odds courtesy of Betfair

Brazil: 1.57

Chile: 7.6

Draw: 4.1

Prediction

Brazil 3-0 Chile

Left back Michel Bastos storms forward to give Brazil an early lead, before Luis Fabiano and Robinho score in the second half to keep the Samba Kings on course for a 6th World title.

Chile will have to be at their very best defensively to stop this, however they will be heavily weakened, missing no less then three players through suspension. Waldo Ponce and Gary Medel both picked up second yellow cards in their defeat to Spain, while Marco Estrada was sent off and will also miss out.

But to their credit Chile showed that they can be a real handful when they keep their discipline, and with flying wingers Mark Gonzalez and Alexis Sanchez supporting Jean Beausejour, they could well pose a threat to the Brazilian defence.

Matias Fernandez is back from suspension to bolster Chile's attacking options and may come in to the side for Jorge Valdivia, where as striker Humberto Suazo is set to miss out again after failing to score in the opening two games.

Chile will need to produce the sort of energetic display they showed against Spain to get anything from this game, but you just feel that given the players they are missing, it might just be too much to ask.

Another question is whether they can keep their discipline, as at times it looked like they would struggled to keep 10 men on the pitch against the Spanish. But Brazil will have to work very hard to get past their South American rivals, and but with Kaka back, and out to make amends for a disappointing tournament so far, it would appear that Brazil should make it in to the quarter finals fairly comfortably.