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Brazil, Colombia to play friendly; funds will go to plane crash victims

Rodolfo Buhrer / Reuters

Brazil and Colombia are scheduled to take the pitch together for a good cause.

Edu Gaspar, former midfielder and coordinator of the Confederacao Brasileira de Futebol, revealed Monday that Brazil and Colombia will play a friendly, with the proceeds going to the victims of the plane crash that killed almost all of Chapecoense's squad.

Related - Chapecoense: A beautiful dream that never got a chance to come true

According to Globo, the friendly will take place Jan. 17 at Estadio Nilton Santos in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Since it's not a FIFA date, we will work with players from Brazilian teams, as to not constrain a club or player that will deny the call because of ongoing leagues," Edu said. "It is a match organised for a very specific reason, and I hope we can help those families who have had such a great loss."

Tite, Brazil's manager who replaced Dunga in June, echoed Edu, saying: "Of course it is a match with special character, but we will enjoy taking a look at some players who did have an opportunity in other call-ups. It will be a good laboratory to throw out some doubts."

The friendly involves the two countries that were set to have representatives in 2016 Copa Sudamericana's final until a plane crash tragically took the lives of 71 people, including 19 members of Chapecoense and 20 journalists joining the Brazilian club en route to the final's first leg. Among the six survivors were three players: full-back Alan Ruschel, 'keeper Jackson Follman, and defender Helio Neto.

Ruschel left a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Friday, while Follman had part of his right leg amputated and Neto suffered severe trauma to his skull, thorax, and lungs.

Related: Chapecoense's Alan Ruschel changed seats before plane crash

In the last meeting between Brazil and Colombia, which was a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Manaus, Brazil, the Selecao survived an impressive display from Los Cafeteros to claim a 2-1 victory.

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