Brazil v Paraguay
Friday 28th June 0130hrs
Football – International – Copa America
Pick Brazil to win to nil
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 8/15 (odds taken 21.30 GMT, Thursday 26th June)
It’s the quarter final stage in the Copa America and hosts Brazil are big favourites to win against a Paraguay team who finished as one of the best third place nations.
Copa America Betting at Unibet
Brazil Preview – Can hosts avoid a shock and make it to the last four?
There was a huge amount of pressure on Brazil coming into this tournament to perform. Not only was there a feeling they underperformed in last summer’s World Cup there was added expectation being hosts. Their preparation for the competition wasn’t helped by the fact Neymar was ruled out injured in the build-up to it. That was far from ideal, but the squad have regrouped and cruised through the group stage. An opening game 3-0 win over Bolivia was hardly Brazil at their free-flowing best but it got them off to a winning start. Tite’s men then laboured to a goalless draw against Venezuela before thrashing Peru in their last group game, winning 5-0. Seven points from three games was enough to see them top Group A and set up this clash.
Paraguay – Will this be the game where Paraguay finally win?
Paraguay were in dire form coming into this competition and despite qualifying for the knockout phase they have not improved all that much. Having been two goals up against Qatar in their first match they contrived to draw 2-2 when they should have seen the game out. A 1-1 draw with Argentina in their next game was a solid enough performance as well. It set them up relatively well for their final group game with Colombia but they rarely threatened and lost 1-0. At the time it was looking very likely they would be exiting the competition at that stage with just two points. The format worked in their favour though as did results elsewhere. It’s been something of a reprieve for Paraguay and they will be hoping to take advantage of that.
Key-Facts – Brazil v Paraguay
- Brazil have to to concede a goal in their three games but there’s a feeling they are not performing at their very best just yet
- Paraguay are essentially one of the ‘lukcky losers’ finishing in third spot in the group stage but still qualifying
- The hosts are heavily favoured to win the tie and reach the semi-finals and should have too much for their opponents
Brazil v Paraguay Betting Advice
This looks something of a mismatch on paper with two teams in very different form. Brazil have not been at their ultimate best so far, but they are still levels above Paraguay. The hosts will have to guard against any over confidence though, and have experience of coming undone against this opponent. At this stage back in 2015, when the tournament was held in Chile, it was expected Brazil would sail to victory. Paraguay had other ideas however and ended up winning the quarter-final on penalties. It was a better side on that occasion, though, who had picked up five points in a difficult group.
The absence of Neymar has not impacted Brazil all that much so far. It’s always a different sort of test coming into the knockout phase so they will have to deal with that. It’s one I can see them handling, though, and progressing to the semi-finals. Tite’s Brazil are usually very sound defensively and can win this tie keeping their clean sheet record intact.
