Thursday 3 July 2014 13:20, UK
Sky Sports pundit Tony Gale believes Brazil can cope with the pressure and expectations of their fans and will get stronger as the World Cup progresses.
The hosts face Colombia in the quarter-finals on Friday and, despite needing penalties to beat Chile in the last 16, Gale is confident Brazil will progress as comfortable winners.
Speaking to Sky Sports News’ World Cup Verdict he said: “You just have that feeling that they were going to win, and I’ve just got that feeling that they are going to carry themselves through, you know they live it, people in the hotels are dressed in Brazil shirts.
“Would we be dressed in England shirts in hotels if the World Cup came to England? I’m not so sure. They live it, they live that World Cup and they are living it through their players and manager at the moment.
"I think they will just have a little bit of luck that goes with it. The pressure is on them but once they get in that stadium the fans just suck them in and it will be brilliant. It will be brilliant to watch and I just fancy Brazil to win.
“I fancy them to win more easily than people are saying because I think they are the type of team that will get better as the tournament progresses.”
Much of the spotlight has been on Neymar throughout the World Cup and with the striker declaring himself fully fit for the match against Colombia, Gale believes the striker is handling the pressure very well.
I fancy them to win more easily than people are saying because I think they are the type of team that will get better as the tournament progresses.
“All Brazilians are talking about Neymar and this kid has produced. England players talk about they are under pressure, but look at the pressure on this kid and he is performing," he said.
“I know it was a simple thing as a penalty when they beat Chile, I was on the beach watching it with the fans and the fans knew he was going to score and he knew he was going to score.
"He had a little hesitancy in his run, sent the keeper the wrong way and everything about it said confidence. I think he is brilliant for the tournament.”
FIFA has discussed the possibility of allowing teams to make a fourth substitution during extra time due to the heat in Brazil, but Gale is yet to be convinced of the argument.
“If it’s going to be brought in it has to be before the Qatar World Cup because that’s going to be absolutely horrendous," he said.
“We have seen the problems with a little bit of heat in Brazil because after all it’s their winter and it’s not as hot as people make out. Come Qatar, to play 90 minutes in that heat will be nigh on impossible and to sustain any pace to any kind of game.
“You have to give them the option but it has to be a certain amount of subs. It has to be done within the 90 minutes or within extra time not at the end of extra time for penalties.”
