This is the third time that Brazil and Chile face each other in the round of 16 of a World Cup, and record is positive for the yellow and green team. In 1998, a 4-1 win. In South Africa, the Brazilian team defeated Chile 3-0. Before that, the teams played in 1962, in the semifinal, with a 4-2 win to Brazil - who won its second World Cup.
The expectation is for an electrifying game, with both teams playing hard to go through to the next stage.
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Although the results have been favorable to Brazil over the course of history, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari showed respect for Chile this Friday and admitted the possibility of the national team being eliminated in Belo Horizonte. This Saturday, the two teams play at Mineirão, in the opening of the knockout stages of the World Cup.
- If they come out better than us, we mustn't lower our heads, end our lives and throw ourselves in a pit, because it won't help. Life goes on. If we do our normal, balanced work, we must also praise the opponents if we lose - said the coach.
Scolari maintains the mystery about the team:
- I already know the starting lineup, but I am not going to tell you now - said Scolari, at the last training session before the match against Chile, on Saturday, at the Mineirão Stadium.
Besides doubt regarding the right back, defender David Luiz has complained of some pain in his back and could miss the match. If the Paris Saint-Germain defender is ruled out by doctors, Dante will replace him.
Fernandinho has been confirmed to substitute Paulinho. The Manchester City player will help Luiz Gustavo in protecting the Brazilian defense.
Chile lineup is also a mystery
Like Scolari, the Chilean national team coach, Jorge Sampaoli, has kept quiet about Saturday's lineup. On Thursday morning, the coach made news when he was annoyed with the presence of a TV Globo helicopter flying over the closed training session at Toca da Raposa, in Belo Horizonte.
Sampaoli even stopped the activities for 15 minutes, which left the atmosphere a bit heavy. The TV broadcaster apologized for the incident, and decided not to use the images in their news programs.
According to the newspaper El País, the Chilean federation submitted a formal complaint to Globo, accusing them of spying and, according to a report from Folha de São Paulo, the Chilean authorities threatened to veto the entry of Brazilian journalists during the team's workout.
Among Sampaoli's likely bets are Arturo Vidal - who arrived in the World Cup with physical problems and was spared from the match against the Netherlands - and Gary Medel, who, even with pain in his thigh, will probably be on the field in Belo Horizonte.
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Translation: traduzca.com
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