The fourth and final 2015 Copa America quarterfinal clash will take place on Saturday, June 27 when favorites Brazil will square off against Paraguay at the Estadio Municipal Alcaldesa Ester Roa Rebolledo in Concepcion, Chile. The winners will earn a spot in the tournament’s final four. If the match ends in a draw it will go to directly to a penalty shootout to decide a winner rather than 30 minutes of extra time. Brazil is aiming to capture their fifth Copa America title in the last seven tournaments since 1997, but will need to get past a pesky Paraguayan side first.
Brazil vs Paraguay – Copa America Soccer Betting Preview
- bet365 lists Brazil as the current favorites to win the game at 4/6 with Paraguay 5/1 and a 90-minute draw at 13/5.
Brazil was one of the favorites heading into the tournament, but that was when young striker Neymar of Spain’s Barcelona was in the side. Neymar’s now out of the squad due to a suspension and Brazil’s chances may have slipped somewhat. Neymar was given the boot for his childish antics following Brazil’s 1-0 group stage loss to Colombia and he’ll new be made to pay for them as he’s been handed a four-match ban from international play.
To fill in for Neymar, team manager Dunga will insert forward Roberto Firmino of German Bundesliga club Hoffenheim. The 23-year-old Firmino has already paid dividends for Dunga as he scored in Brazil’s 2-1 victory against Venezuela in the team’s final group stage outing. He’s now appeared in nine contests for his homeland and has four goals to his name. Brazil also beat Peru 2-1 to top Group C with six points and outscored their opponents 4-3 overall.
Paraguay is now managed by newcomer Ramon Diaz and they pulled off a 2-2 draw against Argentina, beat Jamaica and also drew with regining Copa America champions Uruguay to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. The finished Group B play with five points and went undefeated to finish as group runners up. They also finished group play with four goals scored and three conceded. The Paraguayans have won this tournament twice before, but these triumphs came was back in 1953 and again in 1979.
The last time these two sides met in the Copa America was back in 2011 when they also got together in the quarterfinals. Paraguay managed to pull off an upset by eliminating Brazil in a penalty shootout and then went on to reach the Final, where they lost. Paraguay goes into this game with quite a bit of confidence due to their undefeated group play and could use the momentum to upset the mighty Brazilians once again in a final-eight showdown. Paraguay and Brazil have met 86 times in the past with Brazil winning 47 times, Paraguay winning just 12 and the other 19 contests ending in draws.
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