Brazil coach Dunga does not expect Colombia to alter their attacking style as the two teams prepare for a rematch of last year’s physical World Cup battle at the Copa America on Wednesday.
Colombia, who suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Venezuela in their opening game, head into the Group C match in Santiago knowing they probably cannot afford to lose if they are to stay alive in the tournament.
Defeat to Venezuela on Sunday led to questions about Colombia’s tactical approach, with coach Jose Pekerman unable to improvise a game plan capable of turning the match back in favour of “Los Cafeteros.”
But Dunga believes Colombia’s tactics will remain the same regardless of Sunday’s setback.
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“I don’t think it will change that much,” Dunga said Tuesday. “Colombia have been working hard for eight months and they won’t change because of one match.
“Any team coming off a poor result has pressure because everyone watching believes that if a game didn’t go well you have to change everything, and if it went well, everything’s fine.
“The person in charge has to have the calmness, the balance to know what things need to be done, what measures need to be taken.
“Colombia had their opportunities. They allowed a goal very early and that makes things harder.”
Dunga is expecting a testing battle with Colombia, one of the revelations of last year’s World Cup, when they were eliminated 2-1 by Brazil in the quarter-finals.
“The rivalry’s been large since the World Cup,” Dunga said. “At the Copa America it will be a difficult match, like all of them have been at this Copa America.”
Brazil, 2-1 winners over Peru in their opening game on Sunday, will qualify for the quarter-finals if they win on Wednesday while Colombia will be all but eliminated.
