Familiar foes Brazil and Chile meet

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Brazil and Chile will not have a lot to hide when they play in the second round of the World Cup today.

The two South American nations have met dozens of times in recent years and already know what to expect of their opponent in the match at Ellis Park Stadium.

Brazil have dominated the rivalry and arrive heavily favoured to advance, but this time the five-time cham-pions will be facing a Chile team eager to show they can get past the round of 16 for the first time since their home tournament in 1962.

"We will have to play with intelligence," Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva said yesterday. "We can't go after the win at all costs. We will need to be careful with their counter-attacking, they know how to play and will try to attack too."

The Brazilians know better not to take their opponents for granted.

"It's a very competitive team," Dunga said. "They always play at their limit, leaving all on the field. We will have to do the same. Each match is like a championship now. We have to play extra hard to advance."

Led by Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa, Chile moved from Group H after victories against Honduras and Switzerland, finishing second after a hard-fought 2-1 loss to European champions Spain after going a man down in the first half.

"We will play our own game," Chile defender Mauricio Isla said. "(Brazil) have shown they have one of the greatest teams in the world, but Bielsa wants us to impose our game from the first whistle. They are favourites, but we want to change history."

Brazil had no problem advancing from Group G, finishing first after beating North Korea 2-1, Ivory Coast 3-1 and drawing 0-0 against Portugal.

Brazil have not lost to Chile in 10 years, since a 3-0 result in a 2000 qualifier for the 2002 World Cup. They have won the past seven, outscoring Chile 26-3. In 10 matches this decade, Brazil won eight, drew one and lost only the qualifier in 2000.

Striker Robinho scored six goals in Brazil's last five matches against the Chileans.

"I've always been lucky against Chile," Robinho said. "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 teams have met twice in World Cups and Brazil won both - 4-1 in the second round of the 1998 World Cup in France and 4-2 in a semi-final at the 1962 tournament in Chile. Brazil also won both qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup: 3-0 in Chile in 2008 and 4-2 in Brazil last year.

Open match

But despite the unfavourable numbers, the Chileans say they will not relinquish their attacking style.

"I expect an open match," midfielder Jean Beausejour said. "It's likely that we won't change a millimetre from what we have been doing, regardless of our rival. And with their history and tradition, (Brazil) will also try to attack."

Both teams are likely to be without some regular starters, however, with Chile having the most significant losses.

The team's central defenders - Gary Medel and Waldo Ponce - will not play after receiving their second yellow card in the loss to Spain on Friday. Bielsa also will not be able to count on midfielder Marco Estrada, who was sent off in that game. Carlos Carmona is expected to return in his place after a suspension, as is Matias Fernandez.

Brazil will likely be without midfielder Felipe Melo because of a left ankle injury sustained just before half-time against Portugal. Reserve midfielder Julio Baptista hurt his knee in the second half and is also a likely absentee. The two practiced with the rest of the team on Sunday but remain in doubt.

"He will play if he doesn't feel any pain," Dunga said of Felipe Melo. "But we will have to wait until tomorrow (Monday)."

But Brazil will be boosted by the return of playmaker Kaka, midfielder Elano and striker Robinho.The winner of the Brazil-Chile match will play the quarterfinals against either the Netherlands or Slovakia, which will be played today in Durban.

Netherlands aim to end Slovakian giant killing

DURBAN, South Africa (AP):

The Netherlands have been more substance than style so far at the World Cup and Bert van Marwijk's team is happy to stay that way to beat giant killer Slovakia and secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

The Netherlands start as favourite to win, but will not be taking anything for granted today in Durban after Slovakia's 3-2 defeat of Italy in group play, which sent the defending champion home.

"If we want to play well against the Netherlands we will have to at least repeat our performance against Italy," Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said yesterday.

Slovakia also boasts one of the tournament's leading scorers in Robert Vittek, whose three goals place him at the top of the scoring table with six other players.

Despite Vittek's scoring record, Van Marwijk called Slovakia "a very tough team without real stars".

Van Marwijk wants his team to control possession and patiently probe for openings in the opponent's defence. It might not please all fans as Dutch "total football" does, but it wins matches, Van Marwijk argues. Even so, he sees room for improvement.

"We can play better and more beautifully," Van Marwijk said.

Van Marwijk's method has served the Netherlands well; the team is on a record 22-match unbeaten run dating back to September 2008.

Unaffordable nonchalance

"If we are as concentrated as during the first two games and look for space with direct moves, then we are at our best," he said. "Then we have patience, we have speed we can score. But you cannot afford to play that nonchalantly for 20 minutes."

The Netherlands, losing World Cup finalist in 1974 and 1978, beat Denmark 2-0 and Japan 1-0 in their first two games for a perfect record in the group phase.

Slovakia drew 1-1 with New Zealand and lost 2-0 to Paraguay before the decisive victory over Italy sent them into the round of 16.

Van Marwijk said Slovakia will be dangerous because less is expected of them.

"We came here as newcomers and outsiders," Vittek said after his two goals helped decide the upset of Italy. "But we have already surprised once and we want to do it again. We really have moved the limits of Slovak football somewhere else."

Weiss said his team would play with the same spirit against the Netherlands as it did against Italy.

"They are the favourites but you never know," Weiss said. "They have attacking players like (Wesley) Sneijder and Van der Vaart. It's not easy to play against these guys. They won all their matches at the group stage. They are a fantastic team with fantastic players."

The 2010 World Cup debut of Arjen Robben as a second half substitute against Cameroon gave Dutch fans hope for more beautiful football.

"We are all very happy he is back," Netherlands captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst said. "Arjen is a player who is very important for the team."