Day 20: Part 2:-

Brazil vs. Colombia:-





The host nation continues its march onto WC greatness after having overcome a resilient, spirited and rather unfortunate Colombian side!


Nothing major in way of tactical changes for both teams, with Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari drafting experienced Maicon into RB in place of Dani Alves (mainly due to his poor performances there so far) and Luiz Gustavo missing due to suspension.

Coach José Pékerman opted against beginning with Jackson Martínez on the left side as he was looking to use the pace of Ibarbo and Cuadrado on the flanks to exploit the spaces usually left behind by Brazil’s SBs when they go forward.


The match began in a very expected fashion, with the Brazilians pressing Colombia back into their own half and focusing play down the channels, while the Colombians looked to play on the break.

However, the game’s balance quickly changed after Brazil were able to make full use of an early corner which Neymar sent flying over several Brazilian and Colombian players, only for Thiago Silva to pounce on it and tap it into the net at the far post for a 1-0 lead!

The game became very intense after that first goal as the Colombians played with real tempo and momentum going forward, while the Brazilians went for that aggressive style about which Coach Scolari spoke prior to the match; not allowing Colombia much possession and double-pressing them all over the pitch.

Brazil were using the full width of the pitch in their attacks and Neymar was roaming freely in Colombia’s final third as they looked to exchange passes to find a way through the Colombian defense, while Oscar was bizarrely dropping very deep (almost adapting a DM role!) as he looked to retain possession for his side.

The Colombians looked as though they were going to score almost every time they went on a run towards Brazil’s goal; ensuring their game had an extremely high tempo to it and using spaces in Brazil’s midfield cleverly.

It was a rather top quality end-to-end game in the first half as both teams held nothing back and displayed a proper show of pure attacking football.

Brazil showed an aggressive side to their play never seen before at this WC, and played relatively better in almost all areas of the pitch compared to their previous 4 games; they did, however, lack a good chunk of precision in front of goal as they wasted some really glorious opportunities to make it 2-0 before the break.

Colombia looked very dangerous whenever they went forward throughout the entire half, and they also had a good chance or two at an equalizer which they wasted. They had difficulties delivering that final pass into the Brazilian box and were perhaps hurt by the lack of proper central midfielders in the final third.

The second half witnessed a different mood from the Brazilians as they came out defending a bit deeper than in the first half. But that was largely due to Colombia’s now high-press game as they went searching for a much needed (and, truthfully, deserved) first goal.

The game still had a hint of that urgency of play and high tempo from both sides before the break.

Colombia were being frustrated by their inability to get a proper passing rhythm initiated and the fact that they were playing with too much width but without any real penetration into Brazil’s box. Another issue for them was that the physical presence they had in the box was not proving to be as effective as they might have wanted.

Meanwhile, Brazil were struggling to get out of their own half as they constantly lost possession due to some wayward passing. They were clearly relying too much on set-pieces and seemed clueless as to finding spaces in Colombia’s defensive areas and creating something threatening from open play.

David Luiz’s screamer of a goal from that somewhat long-distance free-kick just raised the level of urgency in Colombia’s game even further.

The Colombians were absolutely committed to attack as they threw players forward and pressed Brazil all the way back into their final third, and the game became even tenser after James Rodríguez converted from the penalty spot.

Colombia tried and tried to get something proper going in attack as the Brazilians seemed to have given up but they came just short as the referee blew the whistle for full time.

It was a fairly subdued performance from Brazil in the second half after a commendable display of football in the first half. It seemed as if they came out after the break to merely defend their narrow lead; for they showed barely no genuine interest in having a go at Colombia’s defenders.

They were poor with their passing, not urgent enough in their build-up play and too physical in attempting to retain possession. The only positive thing from that second half performance for coach Scolari would probably be their rather improved defense (and even that isn’t all jolly news as Silva will miss the semi-final after a rather immature mistake of his own doing!).

Colombia were by-far the better side after the break, offensively and defensively; but were undone by the ineffectiveness of their main striker’s physical presence up front and a lack of central play from the back as they failed to make the most of some really good counter-attacking chances they had.


Man of the match: David Luiz: Probably THE best performer in Brazil’s squad over both halves; as he provided stability and security for his entire team going forward. He topped it all off with a goal which will probably contend for the title of “goal of the tournament” now!