Alexis Sanchez and the pace of Chile's forwards pose the major threat to Brazil's FIFA World Cup chances ahead of Saturday's round of 16 meeting between the South American rivals, according to Brazil defender David Luiz.
"I wanted us to get through and now I am happy," said the 27-year-old after they beat Cameroon 4-1 in Brasilia on Monday to seal their place in the knockout stages. Of Saturday's impending clash with Jorge Sampaoli's impressive side in Belo Horizonte, he added: "Chile are a team who deserve to be there. They have a philosophy of playing good football. They have lots of pace and excellent players."
Chile beat Australia and World Cup holders Spain in their first two matches before a 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Sao Paulo on Monday ensured them second place in Group B. As a result, they will play Brazil for the third time in just over a year - the sides drew 2-2 in Belo Horizonte in a friendly in April 2013, before a 2-1 Brazil win in Canada last November.
However, Luiz added: "History counts for nothing. We want to win. What is the biggest threat that they pose? The whole team."
Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez are likely to have key roles if Chile are to get the better of the hosts and the latter is someone that Brazil striker Neymar knows well. "I always speak to Alexis on the phone. Now we are going to come up against each other," Neymar said, a club colleague of Sanchez at Barcelona.
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