Chile must try to put tight rein on Kaka

ROUND OF 16: BRAZIL v CHILE (Ellis Park, Johannesburg):IT DOESN'T augur well. Chile came valiantly through the group stage with a surprisingly frank and attacking form of football and this is their reward. They come up against Brazil today hoping to add to the list of upsets which the competition has produced. It's a romantic notion, but, but, but . . .

In qualifying, Chile came unstuck twice against the Brazilians, conceding three and scoring none at home and then losing 4-2 away. Brazil have won their past seven meetings with Chile, outscoring them 26-3 in the process. Brazil are unbeaten in 13 meetings going back to a friendly 17 years ago.

This is the third time the sides have clashed in the finals. Brazil put four past Chile on the previous two occasions.

You’d have to be an optimist.

Chile have impressed through the group stage, but there has been a price for their robust style. Ten bookings and a red card means they go into action without central defenders Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce, both of whom collected second yellows against Spain. Medel’s cool and constructive passing out of defence will be sorely missed.

Also gone is midfielder Marco Estrada, harshly judged to have tripped Fernando Torres in the Spanish game.

Still, the Chileans are making all the right noises. Jean Beausejour, whose attacking play has made quite an impact, vows Chile won’t be altering their style. Nor does he expect Brazil to change theirs.

“We won’t change a millimetre from what we have been doing, regardless of our rival,” he said. “And with their history and tradition, Brazil will also try to attack.”

So it is swings and roundabouts for the Chileans in terms of selection. Hardened defensive midfielder Carlos Carmona should return after suspension and the trickery of Matiaz Fernandez should be on show again.

The Brazilians, under domestic pressure to win every game and win it with style and beauty, are far less gung-ho than their rivals. Manager Dunga, never one to lose the run of himself, points out: “Now we get to the stage where the 90 minutes will be decisive, mistakes are not allowed or you will be going home. Chile have been improving, they have a team with good players and will fight very hard to keep advancing.”

“We will have to play with intelligence,” says captain Gilberto Silva. “We can’t go after the win at all costs. We will need to be careful with their counterattacking. They know how to play and will try to attack too.”

The Brazilians are pessimistically waiting news on the state of Felipe Melo’s left ankle, which he injured in the dour draw against Portugal. Melo, with a pass rate of 91 per cent in the 222 passes the stats people have counted him making, will leave quite an absence beside his old comrade Gilberto.

Julio Baptista is also a doubt, but the Brazilians’ strength in depth is impressive. Kaka returns from suspension and Elano and Robinho should be back in harness up front.

If Manchester City fans don’t really want to see Robinho again the Chileans probably feel the same. In his last five games against Chile he has scored six times.

“I’ve always been lucky against Chile,” he admitted. “I don’t do anything different, but for some reason I end up scoring goals. I hope that’s what happens again so I can help Brazil win.”

The Brazilians found themselves huffing and puffing a bit in the group stage games against North Korea and Portugal, and when faced with sturdy defence didn’t penetrate as easily as we like to imagine Brazilian sides doing.

So for all the talk of not changing their style, Chile manager Marcelo Bielsa will have a good think about his trademark 3-3-1-3 formation which, under the circumstances, might be a little too cavalier. Bielsa plays always with one striker and two advanced wingers (look out for Alexis Sanchez on the right) with an attacking midfielder right behind them. The wide midfielders are expected to push up and link with the wingers.

In the group stages the Chileans pressed their opponents aggressively high up the pitch and then broke quickly. It was a principle they stuck to even with 10 men against the Spanish, but a little more defence might be in order tonight. Bielsa has on occasion retreated to a 4-2-1-3. Tonight might be another occasion for that concession.

How Kaka performs will be key to the Brazilian chances. So far Brazil have had difficulty picking out the forwards Robinho, Elano and the resurgent Luis Fabiano – who is talking about a move to Manchester United having heard such nice things about the city from the other pair. Chile will look to minimise Kaka’s time on the ball and recycle possession in the middle.

Crucial to that will be the form of their own midfield darling Jorge Valdivia who, like Kaka, hasn’t set the competition alight. Chile will be hoping top scorer Humberto Suazo gets some game time. Suazo has played just 90 minutes of football in three months, including a half against Switzerland last Monday, but he is the sort of finisher Bielsa’s approach needs.

Chile will ask questions, but the evidence of the qualifying stages is that their style suits Brazil in the way some prey are made for certain predators.