Brazil NT
Brazil vs Colombia
Colombia NT
World Cup Quarter-Final Preview: Brazil vs Colombia
10:42 PM
For the first time in World Cup history, Brazil will play Colombia outside of the qualifying round. There's a lot of pressure on the five-time champions and host nation to make the final, but so far, they've been dealing with it splendidly. Sure, they haven't always produced the best-looking football, and as ESPN have noted, they might not get any better, but Brazil have been fairly consistent. Unlike Brazil, Colombia won all of their Group Stage games. Arguably, though, they've only had one significant victory, against Uruguay in the Round of 16. Sometimes it's the most stable team and not the one-game wonder that ultimately triumphs.
Facts and Figures
- Colombia have won their last four WC games and have scored more goals (11) than Brazil (8) so far in the tournament. Only the Netherlands have scored more goals than Colombia (12).
- However, Brazil leads in corners (27 to Colombia's 14), suggesting set pieces will be crucial in this game.
- Brazil are 20-10-5 (WDL) against Colombia, scoring 76 goals to Colombia's 25.
- Brazil's last three meetings with Colombia were scoreless draws. The last time Brazil beat Colombia was in 2003 (1:2) in the Qualifying round for WC 2006.
- Brazil and Colombia have never faced each other in the World Cup outside of the Qualifying stage.
- Colombia will play in the Quarter-finals for the first time in history. Their second best result was reaching the Round of 16 in World Cup 1990 before being eliminated by Cameroon 2-1 (aet).
- Colombia's James Rodriguez is currently the tournament's top scorer (5 goals). Brazil's Neymar is just one goal behind, tied with Germany's Thomas Muller and Argentina's Lionel Messi.
- Colombia's Juan Cuadrado currently has the most assists (4).
Notable Meetings
Brazil and Colombia's most memorable match came in the Final Round of the 1957 South American Championship at Estadio Nacional Jose Diaz, when Brazil hammered Colombia 9-0. The game featured 5 goals by Evaristo as well as a double by Didi.
Watch the rare highlights here (complete with commentary!):
Prediction
Brazil 3-1 Colombia: The match-up appears to be one in which the team playing the better-looking football won't be the team that wins (think Switzerland or Mexico). There's no doubt that Brazil will be in the semi-finals. They won't keep a clean sheet, but they won't score 9 goals either.
2014 FIFA World Cup Quarter-Finals
Brazil vs Colombia - 4pm ET
Local TV: Univision
