It’s the first time in nine matches the Selecao have been behind at half-time, and there’s no doubt Tite will look to shuffle his pack in search of a result. A lack of penetration points to a change on the wings, with Vinicius or Everton a good option to replace the booked Ribeiro. Rueda seems content to let his side sit back in an organised shape, but tired legs will definitely be a factor as the match stretches on. With Atalanta’s Muriel and Boca Junior’s Cardona available from the bench, Colombia may need a substitution to help them get up the pitch and exploit spaces left in-behind.
An intense first half comes to an end in Rio De Janeiro with Colombia in the lead thanks to a moment of absolute magic from Diaz, whose far-post overhead kick remains the difference between the two sides. Brazil have certainly been the more positive, but despite over 65% possession, Tite’s men have failed to pose Ospina any difficult questions. The Cafeteros look happy to soak up pressure and hit on the counter-attack, with pacey outlets on the wings in the aforementioned Diaz and Cuadrado.
45′ + 3′ HALF-TIME: BRAZIL 0-1 COLOMBIA.
45′ + 2′ Brazil are on the attack once again with the half coming to a close but Ribeiro is unable to hold possession on the edge of Colombia’s penalty area as Tesillo scrambles it away.
45′ The fourth official indicates three minutes will be added for stoppages.
43′ Neymar takes a corner short to Ribeiro, who immediately fires a left-footed cross into the penalty area. It looks a good delivery but Mina is allowed to clear it out of his penalty area with a commanding header.
41′ Cuadrado is once again thrown to the floor after getting to the ball ahead of Fred, following an Ospina punched save on a Sandro cross. It’s a chance for Colombia to clear their lines with just under five minutes remaining.
39′ Tonight, Ospina ties the record for most caps all-time by a Colombia player, going level with former goalkeeper Carlos Valderrama.
37′ Danilo fires a cross into the penalty area from the right looking for Neymar, who gets to it in between Munoz and Mina. The captain uses his head to prod it forward for Richarlison, but the Everton forward can only pop his chance up for an easy Ospina catch.
35′ With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Brazil have not done enough to test Ospina, managing just one shot in the opening 35 minutes – which failed to hit the target. The hosts have seen more than enough of the ball to create chances, but Colombia’s tenacious and organised block have thus far thwarted the Selecao.
33′ Brazil haven’t trailed in a match since October 2020, when Andre Carrillo’s sixth-minute goal put Peru 1-0 up in a match the Selecao would eventually win 4-2. It’s going to take the same mental resolve to get back in this one; it’s a situation Tite’s side have rarely faced.
31′ Jesus and Fred combine to sandwich Cuadrado, leaving a second Colombia player on the turf in two minutes. It’s been a physical match between two sides who certainly have history; the match between Brazil and Colombia in the 2014 World Cup holds the record for most fouls called in a match in tournament history with 54.
29′ Neymar catches Munoz on the leg during an off-ball incident which appeared to be fully unintentional. The right-back is in need of some attention after grabbing his right leg, but should be okay to continue.
27′ Brazil’s second yellow of the match is shown to Ribeiro, who is reprimanded by the referee for holding Uribe back after the midfielder had gotten past his man.
25′ It’s a poor delivery from the corner by Neymar, as it fails to find the head of a team-mate, allowing Colombia to clear at the first time of asking.
24′ Neymar slips the ball into the penalty area for Richarlison, who can only fire an off-balance cross against Munoz, giving Brazil another corner.
22′ The corner, like the free-kick, is taken short by Neymar, but Ribeiro’s path to the ball after a Sandro pass is blocked off inside the penalty area which allows Colombia to regain their shape.
20′ Brazil are given a free-kick in midfield after Barrios’ illegal attempts to keep the ball at his feet while down on the ground, obstructing Casemiro’s pursuit. The set-piece is taken short before being worked into the 18-yard box, which yields the Selecao a corner.
19′ Marquinhos gets in position on the left-hand side of the Colombia penalty area and fires a cross towards Neymar, but the delivery is put too high for the captain, allowing Sanchez to get the telling touch.
17′ The inswinger is put to the near post, but Mina rises highest to nod away the danger.
16′ Neymar is taken down on the left wing, giving Brazil a chance to assault the Colombia penalty area with a good delivery.
14′ Alex Sandro is booked for a foul on his Juventus team-mate Cuadrado, catching the winger in the face.
12′ Colombia boss Reinaldo Rueda is looking for his first win against Brazil: he has managed two games against them, one as Ecuador manager and another in his previous spell with Colombia (D1 L1). His draw was for Colombia on Brazilian soil in qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
10′ Cuadrado is credited with the assist after his inch-perfect cross was met by DIaz’s exceptional finish.
10′ COLOMBIA HAVE JUST SCORED THE MOST INCREDIBLE GOAL! Cuadrado whips a cross to the far post looking for Barrios, but it’s Diaz who meets it with a scintillating overhead kick – giving Weverton absolutely no chance! 1-0 to the Cafeteros!
7′ Richarlison is overzealous in his attempts to win the ball from Barrios, drawing attention from the referee who is well-positioned to see the foul. Colombia are given a free-kick in the centre-circle and a chance to keep possession.
5′ Again Colombia give it away in midfield as a careless Uribe pass lets Fred retake possession for the Selecao. The Manchester United midfielder immediately looks up and splits the defence with a leading pass for Jesus, but Ospina comes off his line to meet the ball first.
3′ A giveaway by Tesillo allows Jesus to win the ball in midfield, but Richarlison’s pass into the penalty area for Ribeiro is blocked by a desperate Sanchez.
1′ Brazil get the match underway from the kick-off!
Colombia make four changes from their 2-1 loss against Peru, as Reinaldo Rueda gets two key players back from red cards. Munoz is in for Medina at right-back, while Uribe and Diaz return from suspension to replace Perez and Cardona respectively. The final switch is in attack, where it’s Borre and not Borja who partners Zapata.
Brazil make five changes from their 4-0 thrashing of Peru last time out. Tite continues rotating his goalkeepers, as Weverton replaces Ederson in goal, while Militao is dropped to the bench for Marquinhos. Fabinho and Everton replaced by Casemiro and Everton Ribeiro in midfield and Richarlison gets the nod over Gabi in attack.
COLOMBIA SUBS: Yimmi Chara, Baldomero Perlaza, Luis Muriel, Oscar Murillo, Carlos Cuesta, John Medina, Edwin Cardona, Frank Fabra, Camilo Vargas, Aldair Quintana, Gustavo Cuellar, Miguel Borja.
COLOMBIA XI (4-4-2): David Ospina; Daniel Munoz, Davinson Sanchez, Yerry Mina, William Tesillo; Juan Cuadrado, Wilmer Barrios, Mateus Uribe, Luis Diaz; Rafael Borre, Duvan Zapata.
BRAZIL SUBS: Alisson, Vinicius Junior, Fabinho, Douglas Luiz, Gabriel Barbosa, Roberto Firmino, Lucas Paqueta, Emerson, Renan Lodi, Everton, Eder Militao, Ederson.
BRAZIL XI (4-3-3): Weverton; Alex Sandro, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Danilo; Fred, Casemiro, Everton Ribeiro; Neymar, Richarlison, Gabriel Jesus.
With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up, starting with Brazil!
Colombia opened their Copa campaign with a 1-0 win against Ecuador, before a 0-0 draw with Venezuela and a shock loss to Peru extinguished their momentum. Even still, the Cafeteros sit second in the group behind Brazil and could guarantee a spot in the next round with an unlikely win against the Selecao; which would be their first since 2015.
Peru’s failure to beat Ecuador earlier today leaves the door open for Brazil to qualify for the next stage as group winners with a victory against Colombia. The Selecao come into this fixture on the back of nine straight wins, dating back to a 1-0 loss against Argentina in a friendly in November 2019. Yet to concede a goal and out-scoring their opponents 7-0, Tite’s side have firmly established their claim as tournament favourites.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Copa America fixture between Brazil and Colombia!
Éverton Ribeiro
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