World Cup preview: Brazil vs Colombia

Four games down, three to go.

Following the nervy, error-strewn victory over Chile, Brazil's World Cup campaign continues on Friday against Jose Pekerman's impressive Colombia side.

With the Cafeteros so fluent so far, it could be a tough task for the Seleção in Fortaleza. Neymar has been passed fit for Brazil, but doubts persist over the hosts' title credentials after a series of below-par displays.

Carl Worswick and I have previewed the game for ESPN FC. Read our take here.

I also contributed to this betting preview for Unibet.

And for the Mirror: five key battles at the Castelão.

Scolari's choice: On Brazil's Plan B – or lack thereof

Before the World Cup began, most observers felt that the settled nature of Brazil's side was a huge advantage. Manager Luiz Felipe Scolari seemed to have found the winning formula during the Confederations Cup, providing answers to questions that had troubled the Seleção for years.

Luiz Gustavo and Paulinho emerged as a genuine centre-midfield pairing after months of uncertainty; Júlio César made the goalkeeping berth his own; Hulk silenced his doubters to become a certain starter; Fred jumped to the head of the queue of slightly underwhelming Brazilian strikers. Everywhere you looked, there was stability. "We have a team," remarked former Seleção striker Tostão with customary succinctness.

How quickly things change. After four largely underwhelming World Cup games, the local press is conducting an ongoing inquest into Brazil's tactical set-up.

Read the rest of this article on the ESPN FC website.

Pressure? What pressure? Neymar keeps his cool again to boost Brazil

It had the feel of a defining moment.

Of course it did: Brazil had to overcome Chile in a penalty shootout in the first knockout round. At the World Cup. A home nation's hopes in the balance.

The eyes of 200 million people were glued to television sets, in Fan Fests, living rooms and scruffy botecos. They had all been through the wringer after 120 minutes of fraught, breathless action in Belo Horizonte had failed to produce a winner. Only the width of the crossbar had prevented the underdogs winning in extra time. Luiz Felipe Scolari's face said it all: We are not enjoying this one bit.

Brazil's fifth penalty taker was Neymar. Minutes earlier he had rallied the troops, but here he was all on his own. The Seleção's best player, their only genuine craque, walked up to the spot. You could not help but fear for him.

Read this piece on Neymar's ability to cope with pressure at ESPN FC.

Brazil manage to surf wave of emotion to secure victory over dogged Chile

They gathered round in a circle, arm-in-arm. They had walked onto the pitch in a similar fashion two hours before, but all the anticipation and excitement had long since drained away. This was now a test of mettle rather than of style or anything else. Do or die. Sink or swim.

Neymar was the first to speak, then Fred, who at least managed to contribute something after another horrible display.

The last player to pipe up was Paulinho. He had not played a part in the game, having lost his place to Fernandinho. But this was no time for sulking. “A porra é nossa,” he howled from the middle of the scrum.

Rough translation: "This f****r is ours!"

This piece can be read on the Yahoo! Eurosport site.

World Cup preview: Brazil vs Chile

Brazil failed to convince in their opening World Cup games against Croatia and Mexico, but the 4-1 win over Cameroon on Monday has restored some confidence ahead of the knockout stages.

The round of 16 kicks off in Belo Horizonte, where the Seleção side face a difficult challenge in the shape of Jorge Sampaoli's Chile. One of the more impressive sides in Brazil so far, La Roja will be eyeing an upset on Saturday afternoon.

Read my 50:50 preview for ESPN FC here.

Check out my betting preview for Unibet here.

Brazil fear Chile – but cool, calm Neymar primed for test

"If I could choose another opponent, I would. I think they're the trickiest side we could have been drawn against. They have everything."

It's fair to say that Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari isn't looking forward to Saturday. Having navigated their way through Group A, his side face their toughest challenge yet in this World Cup, with in-form Chile standing between them and a quarter-final berth.

But while Scolari will feel that he has been dealt a dud hand, he can at least feel safe in the knowledge that he has one supremely talented trump card at his disposal.

Neymar has undoubtedly been one of the names of the World Cup so far, and his record against Chilean defences suggests that he could have some joy at the Mineirão.

Read the rest of this piece on the ESPN FC site.

Craque da Copa: Neymar proves critics wrong to boost Brazil's World Cup hopes

Before last Monday, Brazil star Neymar had only played once at the Estádio Mané Garrincha.

It was his final game for Santos, ahead of his long-awaited transfer to Europe. His destination was Barcelona, who won a long and often tedious bidding war with Real Madrid for his signature.

Neymar felt the full force of the occasion. During the Brazil anthem, a single tear rolled down his cheek. The nation ’s brightest prospect for 20 years was flying the roost. The big wide world beckoned.

Many doubted he was good enough for one of Europe’s best clubs. A show pony, they called him. A YouTube sensation. Not fit to lace Lionel Messi’s boots, let alone grab the spotlight from him.

This article appeared in a Daily Mirror spread on the World Cup's poster boys. You can read the rest here, and Ed Malyon's take on Lionel Messi here.