Chile’s clash against the hosts Brazil tonight marks the beginning of the knockout stage of the World Cup. Although Brazil, who are fancied by many to win the showpiece, are favorites for this tie, Chile have proved that they are no pushovers, having already upset defending champions Spain by sending them home and also having beaten Australia on their way to the last-16. They will be out looking for revenge against the Selecao for a 3-0 loss at the same stage of the competition in 2010.
Chile goalkeeper and captain, Claudio Bravo, who has been described by many as a born leader, has been in fine form in the competition so far. He has led his team to wins over Australia and Spain in the group stages, the latter being arguably the biggest of the number of shocks this tournament has already seen. Despite settling for second place after a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands, Bravo has displayed true signs of class with his performances. He produced magnificent saves in all three games and provided constant encouragement to his teammates to keep his side in with a fighting chance in the tournament.
The 31-year old, who plies his trade in the Spanish La Liga, spent 5 years at Real Sociedad. His leadership qualities and consistent performances have led to him being one of the first names on the team sheet for both club and country. In addition to his shot-stopping prowess, he is also known for his ability with his feet - a quality not commonly seen in most goalkeepers. His performances for Real Sociedad and Chile have seen him complete a move to FC Barcelona, a transfer that was completed last week. He described this move as a ‘huge step’ in his career and something that will help him boost his confidence ahead of his side’s crucial clash against Brazil.
The shot-stopper will have to be at his absolute best against Brazil as he will be up against a range of attacking talents possessed by the host nation. His abilities will be fully tested against the likes of Fred, Hulk, Oscar and more significantly, his future club mate and fan favorite, Neymar, who has been in fantastic form with 4 goals in the last 3 games.
Making his 83rd appearance for Chile, Bravo will be hoping that his team can repeat what they did to Spain against Brazil and cause another major upset. There is no doubt that they will fight hard for a win, and with attacking talents like Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz, who knows?
Making his 83rd appearance for Chile, Bravo will be hoping that his team can repeat what they did to Spain against Brazil and cause another major upset. There is no doubt that they will fight hard for a win, and with attacking talents like Alexis Sanchez, Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz, who knows?
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