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[monks data]
Brazil national football team
Copa America | Group Stage
Jun 21, 2015 at 10.30pm UK
 
Venezuela national football team

2-1

Silva (9'), Firmino (51')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Fedor (84')

Preview: Brazil vs. Venezuela

Sports Mole gazes ahead to the Copa America clash between Brazil and Venezuela, with Group C all to play for ahead of Sunday's final fixtures.

All four teams can win Group C ahead of the final round of fixtures at the Copa America on Sunday.

Brazil take on Venezuela in Santiago and victory for either will guarantee them a place in the last eight, with all four teams on three points with a goal difference of zero.


Brazil

Brazil's forward Neymar and Brazil's midfielder Firmino celebrates scoring during a friendly football match Austria vs Brazil at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna on November 18, 2014© Getty Images

Dunga's side needed a last-minute winner to beat Peru in their opening game and then fell to Colombia in a heated affair on Wednesday night.

Superstar forward Neymar was sent off in injury time for kicking the ball at Pablo Armero and seemingly directing a headbutt at another Cafeteros player.

That means that he will be missing here and Brazil need a win to ensure they have a place in the quarter-finals. They will know exactly what they need as this match is the last of the group stages and a draw should also be enough for a top-three finish.

The defeat to Colombia ended a winning streak of 11 games since they exited their own World Cup at the semi-final stage a year ago.

The Selecao have won four of the last six Copas, going out at the quarter-final stage four years ago in Argentina.

In total, they have won the competition eight times, which is seven fewer titles than Uruguay, winners of the last tournament.

Recent form: WWWWWL


Venezuela

Venezuela's forward Salomon Rondon celebrates after scoring against Colombia during their 2015 Copa America football championship match, in Rancagua, Chile, on June 14, 2015© Getty Images

The lowest-ranked team of the group, Venezuela started with a stunning victory over Colombia in Rancague last Sunday, but then lost out to Peru last night.

It was a great opportunity for La Vinotinto to secure their spot in the knockout round, but Fernando Amorebieta was sent off as they went down 1-0.

A surprise win over Brazil would guarantee Noel Sanvicente's men a place in the knockouts, while a draw should be enough for a top-three spot, unless Colombia and Peru play out a higher-scoring draw in the earlier match.

After going out in the first round in 12 straight Copas from 1975 to 2004, Venezuela have improved in the last two tournaments.

In 2007 they went out at the quarter-final stage, before four years ago stunning Chile in the last eight and only missing out on the final with a penalty-shootout defeat to Paraguay.

Recent form: WWLWWL


Team News

Neymar in action for Brazil on November 18, 2014© Getty Images

Neymar is definitely out, so Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho might start in his place after coming on at half time against the Colombians.

Elsewhere, Douglas Costa will be hoping to start after scoring the late winner against Peru in the opening match.

Like Brazil, Venezuela have a player suspended after Amorebieta's red card against Peru.

Gabriel Cichero should come in for the Fulham man in what could be the only Vinotinto change.

Brazil possible starting lineup:
Jefferson, Alves, Miranda, Silva, Luis, Fernandinho, Elias, Willian, Costa, Coutinho, Firmino

Venezuela possible starting lineup:
Baroja, Cichero, Vizcarrondo, Rosales, Tunez, Arango, Guerra, Rincon, Seijas, Vargas, Rondon


Head To Head

The last meeting between these two was four years ago at the last Copa when they were also drawn in the same group. It finished goalless and that was the second straight 0-0 draw between the Selecao and Vinotinto.

Before that, Brazil had convincingly won six of the last seven meetings, with the only blip a 2-0 friendly defeat in a 2008 friendly held in the United States.


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Brazil 2-0 Venezuela

They are without their superstar forward, but Brazil will still start as favourites against the world number 72. Venezuela did fantastically to beat Colombia, but missed their chance to go top by losing to Peru and this might just be a step too far.



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Former Brazilian football player Dunga attends the closing ceremony prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final football match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 13, 2014
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina33009
Q Canada Canada31114
3 Chile Chile30212
4 Peru flag Peru30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Venezuela Venezuela33009
Q Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Jamaica Jamaica30030

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Uruguay flag Uruguay33009
Q Panama flag Panama32016
3 United States USA31023
4 Bolivia flag Bolivia30030

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Colombia Colombia32107
Q Brazil Brazil31205
3 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31114
4 Paraguay flag Paraguay30030


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