Brazil expect fewer difficulties against Colombia

Five-time World Cup champions Brazil may be at an advantage by playing in today’s quarterfinals against a Colombia team that likes to attack often. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he knows it will be a very tough match on Friday, but expects Brazil to face fewer difficulties than they did in the 2nd-round game against a feisty and more defensive-minded Chile. Scolari said he doesn't expect ‘a war’ against Colombia, unlike something he'd expect more against other South American rivals. ‘The matches against Colombia are very tough, they have a very good team,’ he said on Thursday. ‘But it's different. It's a different type of rivalry. When we don't have this war atmosphere, our players feel more at ease. Teams like Argentina, Uruguay and Chile don't let that happen.’ Brazil struggled against Chile and was never able to impose its game. After a 1-1 draw, the tournament hosts needed a great performance by goalkeeper Julio Cesar in the penalty shootout to keep alive their hopes of a sixth world title. The Colombian team has been thriving at the 2014 World Cup with an upbeat style that is both thrilling and effective. While Brazil won two of its three group games and needed a shootout to advance from the second round, the Colombians had no difficulty beating their first four opponents. Colombia beat Brazil only twice — the last time in the 1991 Copa America — but the teams have drawn the last four head-to-head meetings, most recently in a 2012 friendly. For Friday's match at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil will be without suspended defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo. Scolari is expected to replace him with midfielder Paulinho, but the coach has also considered changing the squad formation to the 3-5-2 scheme that he used when Brazil won the 2002 title, with an extra central defender. Brazil have reached the quarterfinals in six consecutive World Cups, but were eliminated at this stage in the last two, according to AFP.