BRAZIL vs. CROATIA
Date: June 12, 2014
Time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
Venue: Arena Corinthians, Sao Paulo
Overall Head-to-Head Record (W-L-T): 1-0-1 Brazil
Last Match: 2006 World Cup (Group Stage). Brazil def. Croatia 1-0.
Line: Brazil -375
Group A Preview here.
Starting Lineups posted separately once they're announced.
Team Profiles
World Ranking: Brazil (3rd), Croatia (18th)
Managers: Luiz Felipe Scolari (BRA), Niko Kovac (CRO)
Captains: Thiago Silva (BRA), Darijo Srna (CRO)
World Cup Appearances: 20 (BRA), 4 (CRO)
Best Finish: Brazil (5x Champions, Last in 2002), Croatia (3rd Place, 1998)
Qualifying Records: Brazil (N/A), Croatia (6-3-3, GF: 14, GA: 9)
Pre-Tournament Game Results
Brazil
June 3rd - Brazil def. Panama 4-0
June 6th - Brazil def. Serbia 1-0
Croatia
May 31st - Croatia def. Mali 2-1
June 6th - Croatia def. Australia 1-0
Rosters
Injuries/Discipline
Brazil: N/A
Croatia: Mario Mandzukic (Suspended), Ivan Mocinic (Out - Replaced permanently by Milan Badelj)
Overview
The 2014 World Cup kicks off in Sao Paulo with the hosts taking on Croatia in Group A. It's a tough opener for the underdogs as they'll face a Brazilian team that hasn't lost in their home country since 2002. Croatia is also hampered by the loss of star striker Mario Mandzukic. Mandzukic was suspended in Croatia's final qualifier against Iceland for an unintentional high kick to the groin and is serving that suspension in this game.
More important game for Brazil as opposed to Croatia. Croatia should be in a fight for second and their next two games will be the ones to determine their advancement. Stealing a point here will be extremely helpful in their campaign though. For Brazil, this is a team expected to win the title and every game along the way. A hiccup in their first match will have the naysayers screaming which they absolutely cannot afford.
This will be a stylistic battle without Mandzukic. Lacking their top goalscorer, Croatia should sit back defensively and look to counter when they get opportunities. On the flip side, expect Brazil to come out at full throttle to try and take the game to Croatia and make impression on their home fans.
The first 30 minutes of this game will be critical for both teams. For Croatia, they need to weather the early Brazilian storm and try to take the crowd out of the match, if at all possible. They also have an opportunity to strike if Brazil really over-exert themselves and push too far up the field. Brazil's physicality wears teams down over time and Croatia can't go 90 minutes with them without conceding. For Brazil, an early goal will destroy Croatia. Take it them early and they'll be able to deflate any confidence Croatia has in this match.
Minus Mandzukic, both teams look to be at full strength for this contest. This will also be Neymar's first match in the World Cup and he will like to shine as so many other Brazilian #10's have before him. Croatia in their own right as a number 10 worthy of praise. Luka Modric will anchor the Croatian midfield and will be sure to factor in as a play-making threat in the midfield.
Off the field, there has been all sorts of concern about the Sao Paulo transit worker strike that threatens this game. The strike was suspended yesterday and will tentatively remain suspended through tomorrow's game but a last-minute strike would be a disaster for this World Cup and cast a pall over the rest of the tournament.
Personnel
In the Brazilian Third: Croatia have some dangerous playmakers but no goal-scoring target man. Up against Thiago Silva and David Luiz...Advantage: Brazil
In the Midfield: Brazil deploys 3 forwards and Oscar may as well be a 4th forward. Not the most defensively responsible in the front line and Croatia love to play the possession game with their midfielders. Advantage: Croatia
In the Croatian Third: Srna will have a tough task shutting down Neymar and Brazil have so many other weapons around the opposing goal. Advantage: Brazil
Goalkeeping: Julio Cesar formerly one of the top goalkeepers in the world but has struggled to see consistent time. Better then Pletikosa at his best but Pletikosa sees consistent time. Advantage: Push
More important game for Brazil as opposed to Croatia. Croatia should be in a fight for second and their next two games will be the ones to determine their advancement. Stealing a point here will be extremely helpful in their campaign though. For Brazil, this is a team expected to win the title and every game along the way. A hiccup in their first match will have the naysayers screaming which they absolutely cannot afford.
This will be a stylistic battle without Mandzukic. Lacking their top goalscorer, Croatia should sit back defensively and look to counter when they get opportunities. On the flip side, expect Brazil to come out at full throttle to try and take the game to Croatia and make impression on their home fans.
The first 30 minutes of this game will be critical for both teams. For Croatia, they need to weather the early Brazilian storm and try to take the crowd out of the match, if at all possible. They also have an opportunity to strike if Brazil really over-exert themselves and push too far up the field. Brazil's physicality wears teams down over time and Croatia can't go 90 minutes with them without conceding. For Brazil, an early goal will destroy Croatia. Take it them early and they'll be able to deflate any confidence Croatia has in this match.
Minus Mandzukic, both teams look to be at full strength for this contest. This will also be Neymar's first match in the World Cup and he will like to shine as so many other Brazilian #10's have before him. Croatia in their own right as a number 10 worthy of praise. Luka Modric will anchor the Croatian midfield and will be sure to factor in as a play-making threat in the midfield.
Off the field, there has been all sorts of concern about the Sao Paulo transit worker strike that threatens this game. The strike was suspended yesterday and will tentatively remain suspended through tomorrow's game but a last-minute strike would be a disaster for this World Cup and cast a pall over the rest of the tournament.
Personnel
In the Brazilian Third: Croatia have some dangerous playmakers but no goal-scoring target man. Up against Thiago Silva and David Luiz...Advantage: Brazil
In the Midfield: Brazil deploys 3 forwards and Oscar may as well be a 4th forward. Not the most defensively responsible in the front line and Croatia love to play the possession game with their midfielders. Advantage: Croatia
In the Croatian Third: Srna will have a tough task shutting down Neymar and Brazil have so many other weapons around the opposing goal. Advantage: Brazil
Goalkeeping: Julio Cesar formerly one of the top goalkeepers in the world but has struggled to see consistent time. Better then Pletikosa at his best but Pletikosa sees consistent time. Advantage: Push
Brazil will win if:
They are able to create space on the wings for Neymar, Hulk and their wing backs to operate. Neymar may have his hands full with Darijo Srna and may be taken out of the game a bit so Oscar and Marcelo will have to slide over in support. Croatia figures to try and slow this game down as much as possible so Brazil may have to settle for living on the wings until they can set up opportunities to get the ball to the centre of the pitch.
Croatia will win if:
They can weather the first half unscathed and funnel the ball towards the centre of the field. They have an excellent central midfield with Modric and Rakitic but both can be susceptible to being beaten outside which Brazil would love to do. Keep the ball in the centre of the field and they can better control the pace of play and are better positioned to counter-attack Brazil.
Prediction
Either Brazil scores in the opening minutes or they wear down Croatia in the second half. This was a tough task for Croatia no matter what and they have to do it without their top scorer. Croatia puts up a valiant effort but Brazil's attack too much for them to handle.
Brazil 2-0 Croatia
Either Brazil scores in the opening minutes or they wear down Croatia in the second half. This was a tough task for Croatia no matter what and they have to do it without their top scorer. Croatia puts up a valiant effort but Brazil's attack too much for them to handle.
Brazil 2-0 Croatia
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