SOCCER-COPA/BRAZIL-COLOMBIA Colombia, Brazil look ahead to tough Copa America match

Record ID: 151638

  • Title: SOCCER-COPA/BRAZIL-COLOMBIA Colombia, Brazil look ahead to tough Copa America match
  • Date: 17th June 2015
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JUNE 16, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BRAZILIAN PLAYER JEFFERSON ENTERING COPA AMERICA NEWS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF BRAZIL-COLOMBIA MATCH VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE BRAZIL COACH DUNGA LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) (Loose translation) JEFFERSON, BRAZILIAN GOALIE, SAYING: "The players on the Colombian team have much experience,
  • Embargoed: 2nd July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAF1A0I4XQUI8ZINDDWVABKGFE1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Colombia, who were upset 1-0 by Venezuela in their opening Group C match on Sunday (June 14), clash with soccer powerhouse Brazil on Wednesday (June 17) as 2015 Copa America grinds on.
    After missing out on three World Cups between 2002-2010, Colombia finally returned to FIFA's world stage in 2014, making it to the quarter-finals and ending in fifth place.
    Colombia's James Rodriguez, who stepped into the limelight with a much lauded World Cup performance, said on Monday (June 15) that his team would not be seeking revenge against Brazil on Wednesday, after their 2-1 knock-out at the quarter-finals last year. The game will take place at Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Santiago.
    Brazil beat Peru 2-1 on Sunday and will qualify for the knock-out stages if they beat Colombia. They have a formidable record against their neighbours having lost only twice in 27 meetings.
    In speaking to the media, Brazilian players, however, were not taking their Andean neighbour lightly.
    "The players on the Colombian team have much experience, there are players that cause concern like (Real Madrid's) James Rodriguez, (Monaco's Radamel) Falcao, players who are very strong, so it's difficult. The match will be difficult because in order to look for the win, we're going to have to be very watchful and look for opportunities," said Jefferson, Brazil's goalie.
    Brazilian coach Dunga concurred that Colombia are to be taken seriously.
    "The rivalry is big between Brazil and Colombia, since the World Cup. Within the Copa America, it's more and more difficult every time, to get a positive result in the first rounds, surely we're going to be more focused, more determined, more watchful, but it's going to be difficult as all the games have been in the Copa America," he said.
    Indeed, the region's competition has become more evenly divided, according to Dunga.
    "Four years ago, five years ago, there were just a few Brazilian or Argentine players in Europe. Today, we see a number of Chileans, Ecuadoreans, Colombians. So that gives the players great maturity, self-esteem, confidence," he said.
    Taking his turn to speak at the news conference, the Colombian coach explained that play with Brazil is a benchmark for performance in the tournament.
    "(A win) would show that we can beat Brazil. It's been a long time since Colombia beats it under any circumstances and, at that time when we were doing very well, really in top form, we couldn't do it so tomorrow is a good opportunity-- in a match we're in for the points-- to do it and it would be more than just revenge, it would be joy, joy that we need," Colombian Coach Jose Nestor Pekerman said.
    "We have a game that, could be very motivating for us to face a great team like Brazil and we're working hard to arrive well and we hope, with God's help, tomorrow will be a good game," Colombian midfielder Juan Guillermo Cuadrado added.
    Colombia go into Wednesday's game needing a victory after losing 1-0 to Venezuela in their opening Copa America match on Sunday.
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