Seeley’s Selections – Brazil v Colombia

The Copa America has been a punters’ graveyard with short-priced favourite after favourite getting turned over. Those lovely boys and girls at BoyleSports have got our money and I want it back.

Wednesday night’s late night South American action is a good one with Brazil hosting Colombia in Group C and many of you will be pinning your hopes on The Samba Boys not falling into that trap again.

The Brazilians are just even money with BoyleSports to get the win which will see them into the quarter-finals but that’s not a bet for me.

I wasn’t impressed with Brazil in their 2-1 defeat of Peru in the tournament Group C opener and they will have to improve greatly on that performance to beat the Colombians.

Dunga’s side left it very late in that one. A moment of brilliance from Neymar was the difference between the two sides and the Barcelona super-star was the main man yet again.

If you take Neymar out of this Brazilian side they really are a very average team and Dunga’s decision to keep faith with David Luiz ahead of Thiago Silva is one that puts me off backing them at the prices on offer.

No nation is in better form than the Brazilians, though. Since their World Cup flop last summer they’ve won their last 12 games, but this is a proper test and one I’m not sure they will pass.

Colombia are 13/5 with BoyleSports for a desperately needed win after they were humiliated in their group opener when going down as heavy odds on favourites (story of the tournament so far) against Venezuela. They have to get something from this one to have any hope of making it through to the knock-out stages and I can see them having a real go.

The best bet for neutrals, though, is the 5/6 with BoyleSports on both teams to score in a game that each side have to attack.

This tournament has just exploded with goals in the last couple of games. With Luiz at the heart of the Brazilian defence and in-form Neymar pulling the strings at the other end, goals for both nations look a decent call when Brazil are in action.

These two played out a low-key friendly in September with Brazil coming out on top with a slender 1-0 win. They also played their part in a World Cup classic last summer with the Colombians unlucky to lose 2-1 in an ill-temperd affair which will be remembered for the injury to Neymar which ruled him out of the tournament.

I haven’t had much joy with my draw predictions so far, but I’m sticking with it again for this one. I can see both sides happy with a point at 12/5 with BoyleSports as if you buy enough tickets you will eventually win the raffle.

I can’t see this being boring as it has been anything but a dull tournament and a “Desmond” 2-2 at 12/1 with BoyleSports looks very generous.

Neymar scored the opener against Peru and the 23-year-old is now already the FIFTH highest ever Brazilian goalscorer. He is really staking his claim alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best footballer.

He looks the most likely at this stage to be the tournament’s top goalscorer and of all the strikers in it, he looks the most up for it.

He’s the most influential player for any nation in world football and with 44 goals in just 64 appearances for his country the 11/4 with BoyleSports on him scoring the opener is a “must” bet as is the 20/23 on him to find the net at anytime which he does in most Brazil internationals.

B Lucky
Nigel