James Vs. Vinicius: Real Madrid past and present… for a place in the quarterfinals
El stunning Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (California) It will be the scene of the great game that closes the group stage de this Cup between undefeated Colombia and a Brazil that started badly, but recovered in the last match against Paraguay (1-4).
The ‘coffee growers’ go into the clash with an advantage, as they are already classified for the quarterfinals. They have six points, compared to Brazil’s four. Therefore, the leadership of Group D is at stake. and avoid Uruguay in the next quarterfinal match. Colombia, therefore, deserves a draw tonight after starting with two victories against Paraguay (2-1) and Costa Rica (3-0). Former Real Madrid player James Rodríguez has been reborn and is the game generator of this team. His undefeated record now reaches 25 games and Colombia has not lost since February 1, 2022 against Argentina (1-0). In total, five draws and 20 victories.
The ‘Seleçao’, for its part, arrives with this victory against Paraguay after drawing with Costa Rica at the beginning (0-0). Of course, the Madrid player Vinicius, with two goals, continues to be the focus of all eyes in the five-time world champion.
The Brazilian Dorival Júnior could make several changes, as he does in every game. Brazil has four players facing suspension who, if they receive a yellow card, would miss the quarterfinals: Éder Militao (who could give way to Gabriel), Vinicius himself, Lucas Paquetá and Wendell. For their part, Jefferson Lerma, Richard Ríos and Jhon Córdoba are ready on the opposite side.
The last precedent between both teams dates back to November of last year during the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. It was a Brazil led by Fernando Diniz… and not by Dorival Junior. And with a less settled Vinicius than the current one, which is already a global crack. In short, a very attractive match between two teams that smell like Real Madrid. One, past, that of James from Colombia; and another, the Brazil of Vini, Rodrygo and Endrick.
None of the two teams wants to cross paths with Uruguay in the quarterfinals, and that is why they must win this coming morning to avoid that cursed second place.
