World Cup 2022: Colombia’s Big Brazil Challenge

Brazil vs Colombia

Whenever Brazil play football the world tunes in to see the Samba Boys strut their stuff, and Tite’s team is certainly doing that at the moment.

From the days of Pele through the 1970s Selecao superstars, and into the 21^st century, the Yellow and Blues have been everyone’s second favourite team, outside Brazil of course where the team is idolised. None of this is good news for Colombia who travel to Sao Paolo on Thursday to meet the CONMEBOL table leaders.

World Cup 2022: Brazil vs Colombia is the pick of the South American qualifiers this week. The Selecao sit proudly at the top of the table with 31 points from 11 games while Colombia, currently fourth, are in a four way battle for two automatic qualification spots. Argentina are sitting pretty in second and well clear of Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile. So Colombian head coach Reinaldo Rueda needs to lift his team to greater heights at the Estadio Municipal de Maracana. It’s a huge ask; Brazil have won 17 of their previous 21 competitive fixtures on home soil, with a goal difference of 54 to five across these victories.

Talking Points

Raphinha set to start for Brazil

With seven goals in qualification PSG star Neymar is Brazil’s top scorer and he’s sure to start up front, possibly alongside Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, while Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino sits this one out. But another Premier League player has been making his mark and should make the starting 11. Leeds United winger Raphinha has two goals in the competition so far and is beginning to establish himself as a Brazil regular. He’s been one of the standout stars in the Premier League since Leeds’ promotion to the top flight in 2020, scoring 11 goals and making nine assists in 40 appearances. He has an eye for the spectacular and mesmerising ball skills which makes him the perfect Brazil player.

Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta could also make a start; the 24 year old attacking midfielder has scored five goals in 25 appearances for Brazil and will expect to get the nod ahead of Philippe Coutinho. Meanwhile, the last line of defence, goalkeeper Alisson, had a nightmare in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to West Ham on Sunday and he might make way for Manchester City’s Ederson.

Either way Brazil will have a world class stopper between the posts as yet another challenge for Colombia to overcome.

Draw specialists Colombia might just settle for another point

Can Colombia get all the three points against Brazil in their World Cup 2022 qualifying clash? — Colombia’s Juan Cuadrado and Ecuador’s Angel Mena fight for the ball during their World Cup qualifier at Metropolitano Stadium

Seven draws and two victories from the last nine games show that Rueda’s Colombia are a resolute side which is hard to beat, and they have every chance to keep hold of one of the top four qualifying places if they can turn draws into wins. But Sao Paulo may not be the easiest place to start winning, and I suspect Los Cafeteros would take a point now if offered.

And they are certainly capable of that. Napoli keeper David Ospina has been in great form for club and country, while Spurs centre back Davinson Sanchez will surely benefit from the arrival of head coach Antonio Conte at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Up from Luis Muriel has three goals and he may start alongside his Atalanta sparring partner, Duvan Zapata, who has been in scintillating form for the Serie A title chasers. And there is plenty of support from the wings with Porto’s Luis Diaz on the right and left wing-back Juan Cuadrado, who scored in Juventus’ 1-0 win over Fiorentina last weekend.

And there may be more to come from attacking midfielder James Rodriguez who is now playing at Al Rayyan in Qatar after a difficult stint at Everton. The former FC Bayern and Real Madrid player was Colombia’s biggest star a couple of years ago but lost his way on Merseyside, but there’s definitely a quality player in there.

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World Cup

History

The Selecao have dominated the head to head Brazil vs Colombia results winning seven, drawing seven and losing just one of the last 15 encounters.

The two sides drew 0-0 in Colombia just last month; and that was the second of three consecutive goalless draws Los Cafeteros have played out, also slugging out stalemates with Uruguay and Ecuador, while Brazil beat Uruguay 4-1 last time out.

Brazil are unbeaten in 31 at home and haven’t lost to Colombia in their last five visits.

In terms of recent form, Brazil have won four lost one and drawn one of the last six games while Colombia are unbeaten over that period, but have won just one and, of course, drawn the other five.

Betting Tip

	Brazil vs Colombia	Total Goals 2-3 @ 1.85
	November 12, 08:30 (GMT+8)

The Brazil vs Colombia betting odds don’t hold out much hope for the visitors with odds on a home win at 1.43, while the draw is at 4.07 and an away win is at 6.37.

For a correct score line, 2-0 is the most likely at SBOTOP odds of 5.41 and while Brazil fans will fully expect a home win, I’m not ruling out a 1-1 draw.