Posted by ESPN Stats & Information
Brazil versus Chile, Monday
Ellis Park Stadium -- Johannesburg
Storylines
• How big an underdog is Chile? It has lost seven straight games to Brazil, including being swept in the World Cup qualifiers, and has been outscored 26-3 in those games.
• Brazil has won four straight round of 16 games. The last time Brazil lost at this stage of the World Cup was in 1990, a 1-0 loss to Argentina.
• Chile shoots for history: Chile has not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since hosting in 1962.
Series history
• In 65 previous matches, Brazil leads series 46-7-12. Chile's last win came in a World Cup qualifier in 2000.
What to look for
• Kaka, Elano and Robinho return: Kaka missed the Portugal game because of a red-card suspension, Robinho was rested, and Elano missed the game because of injury. All three are expected to start against Chile. Dunga said the absence of the three regular starters, especially Robinho, played a part in Brazil's failure to score against Portugal.
"Robinho could've given us an edge," Dunga said. "He can make a difference with his dribbles when there is not a lot of space, like it was the case against Portugal."
• Chile suspensions: Gary Medel, Waldo Ponce and Marco Estrada are all suspended for the match.
• Brazil and Chile both ranked in the top 5 in shots taken during group play. The leaders: Argentina, 64; Brazil, 57; Ghana, 55; Chile, Cameroon, Italy and the United States, tied with 49.
• You'd think having two of the best defenders in the world would be an advantage. But not when they play the same position, as do Dani Alves and Maicon. Arguably the two best right backs in the world were on the field together for 132 minutes of group play for Brazil, during which Brazil was outscored 2-0. When Alves was on the bench, Brazil outscored its opponents 5-0.
From the research room
• Brazil didn't have a player age 25 or younger in its starting lineup for either of its first two group-play matches: Gilberto Silva (33), Lucio (32), Juan (31), Julio Cesar (30), Luis Fabiano (29), Elano (29), Maicon (28), Kaka (28), Michel Bastos (26), Felipe Melo (26), Robinho (26). Only once before in its World Cup history -- 92 matches -- had Brazil started a lineup with a player younger than 25.
• Chile committed more fouls than any other side in the group stages (62).