Chelsea’s Willian says Brazil has to play with ‘joy and responsibility’ against Paraguay

Brazil are aiming to ensure history does not repeat itself when they take on Paraguay for a place in the Copa America semi-finals as the two countries meet at the quarter-final stage for the second successive time.

Brazil’s Willian attends a training session in Santiago, Chile, on June 23, 2015. Brazil will face Paraguay in their Copa America quarter-final match on Saturday. REUTERS/Jorge Adorno

Brazil are aiming to ensure history does not repeat itself when they take on Paraguay for a place in the Copa America semi-finals on Saturday night.

The countries are meeting at the quarter-final stage for the second successive time, and it was Paraguay who emerged victorious last time out thanks to a penalty shoot-out success in La Plata in 2011.

That result was no fluke, either. Paraguay were moments away from beating Brazil in the group stage of the same Copa America, only for Fred to net an 89th-minute equaliser for the five-time world champions.

Read more:

With those games in mind, Brazil know better than to underestimate Paraguay in Concepcion, and their playmaker Willian is putting little stock in the fact his side are considered favourites for the match. The Chelsea midfielder said: “Paraguay are a tough and competitive opponent. They fight all the time, for 90 minutes, and we know what it’s like to play against that kind of side.

“During the last Copa America, we were eliminated by them. I hope it will be different this time.

“It is always difficult to say who is going to get through. Today, football is very even. It is not easy to say ‘that team is favourite’, like it used to be. The other national squads have improved a lot. There is always a surprise.”

Willian, whose team finished top of Group C despite being beaten by Colombia in their second match and losing leading scorer Neymar to a tournament-ending suspension, added: “I hope Brazil go on.

“We have to play our own game, the way that the Selecao likes to play, with joy and responsibility. If we manage that, we will be close to knocking out this tough opponent.”

Unbeaten Paraguay secured their place in the last eight with a second-placed finish in Group B behind Argentina, picking up five points from their three games.

Despite their success against Brazil four years ago, Paraguay coach Ramon Diaz knows how difficult it will be to overcame a side who have won the Copa America in four of the past six editions.

He is not ruling out his side’s chances, either, telling Tigosports.com: “Brazil are always powerful and they proved that in the last 10 games, where they’ve lost only once.

“But this is Paraguay’s moment. We are two games away from earning a place in the history books, and that’s not something that happens every year.

“But now it is not time to think about making history. First we have to face Brazil and that is our final,” added Argentinian Diaz, who will be without the injured Miguel Samudio and Nestor Ortigoza.

Follow us on Twitter at NatSportUAE