please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Brazil defender David Luiz is nursing a slight back problem suffered in training but he is expected to be fit. Fernandinho is pushing for a starting role in midfield, although Luiz Felipe Scolari said earlier in the week that he has "blind faith" in Paulinho. Chile defender Gary Medel is a doubt with a muscle strain but, if fit, will keep his place in a full-strength side. Key midfielder Arturo Vidal will return after being rested for the group stage defeat against the Dutch. Vidal, Charles Aranguiz, Francisco Silva and Eugenio Mena are all one booking from a ban, along with Brazil quartet Thiago Silva, Ramires, Neymar and Luiz Gustavo. Head-to-head Brazil are unbeaten in their last 12 games (W10, D2) against Chile since a 3-0 away defeat in a World Cup qualifier in August 2000. Brazil have won all three World Cup meetings: 4-2 in 1962, 4-1 in 1998 and 3-0 in 2010 exactly four years ago to the day of Saturday's match. Chile have only beaten Brazil seven times in 68 attempts, drawing 13 and losing 48. Four of those Chile wins came in competitive matches. The nations last met on 20 November 2013 in a friendly in Toronto, when Brazil beat Chile 2-1. Hulk and Robinho scored either side of an Eduardo Vargas equaliser for Chile. Brazil Brazil have won their last five second-round matches at the World Cup since a 1-0 defeat by Argentina in 1990. Luiz Felipe Scolari's side have won 11 of their last 12 matches, the exception being a goalless draw with Mexico in the group stage. Their only defeat in the last 24 games came against Switzerland last August (W18, D5, L1). Brazil are now unbeaten in 40 successive home matches, with their last defeat coming against Paraguay in August 2002. Their last competitive defeat at home was 3-1 to Peru in the 1975 Copa America semi-final. Neymar has scored 35 goals in 52 appearances for Brazil, including 26 goals in his last 31 caps. He is now sixth on Brazil's all-time top scorer list, trailing only Bebeto (39), Zico (48), Romario (55), Ronaldo (62) and Pele (77). According to Prozone statistics, Fred was only in possession of the ball for seven seconds during the victory over Cameroon last time out, despite completing the 90 minutes. Chile Chile have lost each of their previous second-round fixtures at the World Cup, both against Brazil (0-3 in 2010 and 1-4 in 1998). They have also been defeated in their previous four World Cup matches against fellow South American sides, conceding at least three goals every match (14 goals in total). Their only victory in a World Cup knockout game (excluding the 1962 third-place play-off), was against Soviet Union in the quarter-finals of that tournament. Eduardo Vargas has scored in each of his last two appearances for Chile against Brazil, including a goal in Belo Horizonte in April 2013.
Claudio Bravo - Out of our league. Joining Barcelona? Gary Medel - Could probably sign Francisco Silva - Could probably sign Gonzalo Jara - Could probably sign Mauricio Isla - Probably could attract bigger teams. Worth a punt? Charles Aranguiz - On loan at Internacional until August. Could be in demand after. Possibly realistic. Marcelo Diaz - Could probably sign Eugenio Mena - Just signed for Santos Eduardo Vargas - Possibly realistic. Returning to Napoli from Valencia loan this summer. Arturo Vidal - Errrr Alexis Sanchez - Hmmmm Jorge Valdivia - Could probably sign Jean Beausejour - Could probably sign Carlos Carmona - Could probably sign Felipe Gutierrez - Could probably sign Fabian Orellana - Could probably sign
Logic says Brazil!! Going for Brazil up to the semis where France will destroy the dreams of millions to go through to the final. Why France? Professional pundits are obviously going for a Brazil v Germany and Argentina v Netherlands so it would be good to see the pundits get it wrong. Besides which France are managed by a player who knows something about winning World Cups!!! And has this team playing as a team!!
I just asked my cat - he miaowed at Mexico and at 1-0. Controversial, but there's no arguing with that.
Bastarding Southampton have made me terribly nonplussed by football right now - it's spoiling my World Cup!
We haven't got any players in this tie, have we? So no need to worry about them being in the shop window and getting sold at half time.
This game is in Fred's home state, Minas Gerais, (General Mines) he used to play for Cruzeiro here, the current champions of Brasil. please log in to view this image
