BRASILIA (SportingAlert) — Watch the World Cup third-place game between Brazil and the Netherlands live streaming on ESPN3.com and WatchESPN from Estadio Nacional on Saturday.
Brazil were slaughtered 7-1 by Germany in their semi-finals, while the Netherlands were beaten in a penalty shootout by Argentina in the other semis.
“I know my career will be marked by that defeat, but we have an obligation to move on and think about the next goal, which in this case is the match for third place on Saturday in Brasilia,” the Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.
“I know it’s a much smaller dream that we all wanted, but we have to honour the shirt of the national team.”
The game is expected to see the return of Brazil leading center-back and captain Thiago Silva, who missed the defeat against Germany the last time out because of suspension and the Paris St German star expects a better showing from the hosts on Saturday.
“This is a bad time so we need strength from our fans,” he said. “I guarantee that we will play this Saturday’s game like it was the final.”
Silva added: “It’s almost impossible to explain what happened” against Germany.
“This was not the Brazil team we know.”
Missing out again is forward Neymar, who picked up a tournament ending back injury in the quarter-finals against Colombia.
Scolari could rotate his starting team for the final fixture of their World Cup campaign, with forward Fred likely to be dropped to the bench.
Bernard, Paulinho, Willian, Ramires and Jo are also all pushing for starting places, as Scolari look to end the tournament on a winning note.
The Netherlands are also expected to make changes, with head coach Louis van Gaal set to drop his captain and forward Robin van Persie and midfielder Wesley Sneijder, with the likes of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Jonathan de Guzman and Memphis Depay all pushing for starting places in Brasília.
“I didn’t name the team this morning, which goes against my principles,” Van Gaal said. “It is the first time I’ve done that. I have to see how our training session goes first.
“I have to see who is in good shape and who is not.
“We have been in this tournament the longest time with the other three so the pains the players have had are now an issue, but we are moving in the right direction.”
