Not much possession in either team's attacking third. Most of the match is being played in midfield as neither side seems comfortable with the high pressure.
Looking ahead, Brazil-Netherlands this weekend will be fun to watch, along with Germany-Argentina there are two fantastic quarterfinals matching Conmebol and UEFA that could easily be a finals matchup under other draws.
Though these two sides finished 1-2 in CONMEBOL qualifying, Brazil won both its matches against Chile, 3-0 and 4-2, so I suppose this result shouldn't be much of a surprise.
Chile actually won more games (10) than Brazil (9) in qualifying, but the Selecao didn't suffer as many losses.
6 round of 16 matches complete and 21 goals scored. Averaging over 3 goals a game. The defensive minded group stage giving way to more offensive elimination rounds.
Unfortunately, it was too cold tonight in Johannesburg for the typical Brasilian fans to be out dancing in the flesh. However, I experienced it first hand at the '94 World Cup. My brother and I sat right behind a Brasilian drum section with gyrating bikini clad women at the Holland v Brazil quarterfinal in the Cotton Bowl. All told, that was one hell of an experience.
And here we are again. Brazil v. Holland in another quarterfinal !
I was at that game as well. It might as well of been played on Mars. I could not believe how disinterested the Metroplex was in having the world cup. I remember being in the west end the night before (with about 40,000 of my closest Brazilian and dutch friends) and hearing the locals try and figure out what was going on. There was a Brasileira in front of me that still visits me in my dreams.
As far as the game today. South America reminds me of the old Big 8. 2 teams, and everyone else cowers into the fetal position when they play them. The only one that ever stands up to them is uruguay, by any means necessary.
So, with one match left to play in the round of 16, teams from CONMEBOL are an improbable 13-2-4 (wins-losses-ties) in this competition, with three sides having already advanced to the quarterfinals. Only one CONMEBOL representative, Chile, has been eliminated, and that came courtesy of another South American side, Brazil. Chile is also the only CONMEBOL team to have lost.
A win today for Paraguay would mean half of the 2010 World Cup's quarterfinalists hail from South America.
Looks like I picked a good morning to take care of a ton of errands. I had to choose morning or afternoon match to miss and with Espana-Porto on tap it was an easy choice. Actually got to see the PK's at end and English announcers at least suggested Paraguay was better squad and deserved to go through.