Fernandinho well aware of Chile threat

By now, Chile and Brazil are familiar opponents. It took a penalty shootout to separate them in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, whilst Roberto Firmino’s late goal back in March was enough to secure Brazil a 1-0 friendly win at Emirates Stadium. Since then, Chile won the first major honour in their history […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-10-07 16:19:00

By now, Chile and Brazil are familiar opponents. It took a penalty shootout to separate them in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, whilst Roberto Firmino’s late goal back in March was enough to secure Brazil a 1-0 friendly win at Emirates Stadium. Since then, Chile won the first major honour in their history on home soil at this year’s Copa America. Dunga’s Brazil endured a more difficult tournament, exiting at the quarter final stage to Paraguay.

Manchester City’s Fernandinho believes that Brazil can use this familiarity to their advantage, as the Seleção lock horns with Chile in Santiago on Thursday in their opening World cup qualifier. “They play with three defenders, they are very fast, the team supports them well and the midfield leaves no room for the opponent to try to impose the ball,” Fernandinho pointed out. “Besides having skilled attackers able to decide games, such as Alexis Sanchez.”

The City ‘volante’ also acknowledged the difficulties that playing in front of a fevered Santiago crowd could cause for Brazil, “It will be in the opponent’s home, with all the natural difficulties that this brings, this will give us difficulties in all of the qualifiers.” Fernandinho also believes that Chile will be well versed in the strengths of the Brazil side, “They also respect us. We have a team that has everything to get the win. That is our objective: to start on a good path in search of qualification for the World Cup.”

The ex-Shakhtar man also understands that he has competition for his place, with Elias of Corinthians in good domestic form, “We are somewhat similar in style, to not get too on the ball and look to play a dynamic game for the team. Elias has different characteristics, especially in recent years, to arrive in the area and finish. I don’t run forward as much, I try to keep my position more.”

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