We’re back into Group B of the Copa America Centenario in the early hours of Thursday morning with the opening match of the two on the schedule expected to be one of the most one sided in the tournament as Brazil take on Haiti in Orlando.
Both sides failed to win their opening match in the tournament and go into this one knowing a defeat could well end their chances of qualification. Indeed Haiti are out if they lose this match.
This isn’t the strongest Brazil squad that has ever been put together that is for sure but they will know if they are to offer anything in this tournament this is simply a must win game and while the margin of victory is likely to have little bearing on their qualification sending a marker out could be very important.
Brazil were pretty poor in their opening match against Ecuador but with so many players missing we can expect that. The fact that they have a game or two under their belts now and will have been training with each other for a while should see them come on for the run from here.
Haiti went into this competition as the third lowest ranked side in the competition and I saw nothing in their opening game with Peru to suggest that was a false position. It wasn’t until deep into injury time that they created anything close to a real change whereas if Peru were more clinical they would have been out of sight long before then.
With that shutout against Peru, Haiti have now scored just two goals in their last seven matches which isn’t a run that is going to inspire much confidence against this Brazil side. Playing for a draw and aiming to beat Ecuador could be their best hope but even that is a pretty forlorn one.
Team News
Brazil are likely to line up with the same 11 that drew with Ecuador in their first match. That saw Hulk and Lucas Moura on the bench to begin with and while both came on neither had the dramatic impact that is likely to earn them a starting berth here.
To the surprise of many Kervens Belfort was left on the bench for Haiti in their first game. When he did come on he had their best chance which he narrowly failed to convert but the change that he brought to the side could lead him to start this one.
Head to Head
These two nations have met on just the three previous occasions with the last of those coming in 2004 when Brazil won a friendly 6-0. That was their second win after a 4-0 friendly win in 1974 while Haiti’s sole win came when they won 4-3 in the Caribbean Cup in 1999.
Betting
There wasn’t much I saw about Haiti in their opening match that suggested to me they can put up much of a challenge to Brazil here. They were exposed defensively and didn’t really offer much going forward although I suspect they weren’t intending to show too much in that area of the park. Even so two goals in seven matches tells its own story.
I didn’t think Brazil were great either but they were playing the next best team of the group who are in form and dangerous so I’m prepared to let them off that one. I don’t think they will be as bad again and indeed I think this match will largely be about how many chances they take.
I’m interested that the Asian line is only two because I’ve got to think that is the very least that Brazil will win this game by but if they can find the net early then this one could open right up for them in much the same way as we saw when USA played Costa Rica.
We should be guaranteed at least a push on this Asian line but I’ve a feeling this is the match it is going to click for Brazil and if that is the case two goals won’t be enough of a start for Haiti.
Tips
WON – Back Brazil (-2AH) to beat Haiti for a 4/10 stake at 1.77 with Unibet
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