Frank LorenzoBrazil and Chile meet this Saturday at 12 PM ET at the Estadio Mineirao, at Belo Horizonte, to officially open the round of 16 and the most exciting part of the 2014 World Cup as the teams need to win or they will go home.
Brazil and Chile meet this Saturday at 12 PM ET at the Estadio Mineirao, at Belo Horizonte, to officially open the round of 16 and the most exciting part of the 2014 World Cup as the teams need to win or they will go home.
Brazil won group C after wins over Croatia and Cameroon, and a draw against Mexico; they earned seven points and ended first.
“We become more afraid, more nervous. It is normal. Not because it is in Brazil, but because it is a World Cup. You only get the chance to get to the final if you win,” said Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
“I’d rather play any of the others. They’re a pain to play against,” he added when asked about how difficult the matchup against Chile is.
Chile showed they had great players and a great coach when they advanced second in group B over current champions, Spain, and Australia, and only below Netherlands. The Chilean beat both Australia and Spain, and ended the group stage with a loss against Netherlands.
Chile is still trying to have midfield Arturo Vidal in the game against Brazil; he’s listed as questionable.
“We as the Chilean national team believe Vidal is not even close to 100 per cent, but we agree with Juventus that Vidal has to play for many reasons: for his courage, his manliness and because he is an emblem,” Sampaoli said.
“So, for what time he can play, he is doing his best to be ready. He did it to play against Spain, with a big effort and he is doing it daily with 1,000 treatments. There are a lot of reasons that make me wish Arturo could be on the pitch,” said coach Jorge Sampaoli about Vidal.
