What has "home turf" done thus far for Brazil besides earning them a cheapie penalty they didn't deserve against Croatia?
Below average against Mexico, won a game against a team that was shaving, and was 50/50 with Chile who I have slightly below Colombia.
Thru are under the most pressure of anyone and that almost outweighs the HFA.
Never said they would play better because they are at home, but you still have to understand how things work when it comes to being a host nation especially when you are the big guy.
Have you seen how refs are treated if the home team doesn't get the calls? It's like Sir Alex Ferguson he pressures the refs to some how give him 7mins of "mystery time" as tipyer likes to call it. You can't measure it but if you know the politics of the game that is how it goes.
Plus how often do you see this price for Brasil at home in a meaningful game? Other than against Argentina you will rarely see that.
I could careless what Brasil has done vs their group opponents I'm focusing on how they match up vs Colombia and right now this is very favorable for them at the odds present. If Brasil were -1.5 then you'd have to be laughing thinking Brasil would cover that. But to just win in regulation vs Colombia I will take it. Please name me the threats Colombia have outside of James and Cuadrado? Why are people so impressed with how Colombia have played when they were clear cut to advance in that cheap group, they played an ultra defensive Greek team that that scoreline doesn't dictate how the match was played, statistically speaking it was very even.
They were outshot again this time by Cote D'Ivoire.
Even though the game vs Japan did not have major significance they were again outshot.
If we looking throughout those 3 games, statistically speaking Colombia played second best
In the Quarter Finals, they were again outshot and to be honest if Suarez was playing a lot of the crosses into the box would of been connected, sure being up 2-0 they chilled a bit but one wonder goal by James really settled it.
I'd rather have David Luiz and Thiago Silva than Yepes and Zapata, only James would even be considered for the Brasilian XI, the quality across the board is with Brasil, the experience is with Brasil, the tactical advantage is with Brasil. Heck the Brasilians have faced different types of teams, one that can't defend, one that will defend, one that will attack and one that will try to play possession. Unlike Colombia who have pressed all their matches, are they even prepared to face a team that can attack properly? That can rotate around James?
This Brasilian team can play on both halves whereas I don't see how the Colombias are just going to sit around and absorb an attack but the other problem is if they do press ther are a ton of gaps that can be filled. Zuniga gets a bit too attack minded and can easily be covered by the Brasilian fullbacks
Brasil will cause a lot of match up problems for Colombia, don't be surprised though if you see Pekerman make some changes to the starting XI. He is well known for doing a lot of tactical changes that are either a touch of brilliance of an absolute disaster.
If you think Brasil has a lot of pressure Pekerman has now set some high standards for Colombians and if he doesn't deliver he's going to get into a shit load of trouble.
So case in point, the last 4 games between the 2 have resulted in draws. In all 4 of those games the Colombians have pretty much set up a "come and break us" type of attitude which of course the Brasilians did not handle well. Now when we look at this Colombian edition, the difference is that they have won their games based on their attack...again if you try to press Brasil you will be in a lot of trouble. Zapata and Yepes will have to play their nuts off and those two are also known to be quite clumsy and make poor decisions.
I'd love to see Hulk up there causing havoc with his size creating more opportunities for Neymar and Oscar behind him. Alves and Marcelo will be crucial here as the Colombian wingbacks aren't necessarily their strongest assets. Contain James, perhaps rotate on him and hit him hard. There will be a ton of hard fouls here, typical South American game.
I think you could also think who is more likely to be able to make a come back from being a goal down? Brasil or Colombia? Who can keep a lead and make it 2-0?
Brasil has been tested, heck they've been on an emotional roller coaster, whereas Colombia haven't had to sweat...but all of a sudden the tides have turned now Colombia are going to face their first real test.
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