Brazil-Croatia preview - World Cup 2014
The worldwide soccer-mania will reach its crescendo when hosts Brazil take on European middle weights Croatia in the opening fixture of the 2014 Football World Cup at the Arena de Sao Paulo on this Thursday. Those who have long World Cup memories will recall a few opening day upsets in which popular favourites bit the dust against underdogs. France’s defeat against Senegal in 2002 and Italy’s defeat against Cameroon in 1990 are a couple of memorable examples. Croatia will look forward for an encore, while Brazil will use all its might to prevent any such early hiccups.
Brazil-Croatia Preview
Man for man, Brazil is Goliath to Croatia’s David. The team seemingly does not have any weakness. Neymar, Hulk, Fred, Willian, Oscar, Dani Alves and Thiago Silva – the top stars of European soccer will club together for national glory. The biggest problem for their coach Luiz Felipe Scolari will be to choose the players to keep out.
Scolari has always been a pragmatic coach whose teams play solid defensive football with sudden bursts of counter attacking. Croatia could be the right team to test-dose the strategy. The Balkan team has a couple of aging defenders in their ranks. In addition, they will be without their top striker, Mario Mandzukic, who will miss this game as he was sent off in the final qualifying game against Iceland.
Still, Croatia is capable of scripting a sensational upset, particularly if their midfielders Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic strike form.
Head 2 Head Matches
13.06.2006 World Cup Brazil 1 - 0 Croatia
17.08.2005 Friendlies Croatia 1 - 1 Brazil
Players
Modric and Rakitic, who both have had a terrific European season, are not the only in-form players in the Croatian line-up. Niko Kranjcar, Eduardo, Ivica Olic and Nikica Jelavic are all skilled and experienced players. But their reputation pales in comparison to Brazil’s young stars. If Neymar and his pals take flight, the hosts will have a dream opening.
Brazil-Croatia Prediction
The odds are stacked against Croatia. The best they hope for will be a draw, which will boost their chances of qualifying to the next round. But Brazil will not be satisfied with anything other than a convincing win. And they are favourites to get that too.