FULL TIME: Final score from Sao Paulo, it’s Brazil 3 – 1 Croatia
Brazil celebrate, and it is an opening day win that was promised, and has been delivered. Croatia will rue the second goal, and Brazil will be assured they have survived the toughest game in Group A with three points.
Mexico and Cameroon to meet tomorrow. Join The Roar for more live blogs. You’ll see me next covering the Group B clash between Chile v Australia game tomorrow morning.
Brazil‘s journey towards lifting a sixth World Cup begins with a clash against Croatia. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6:00am (AEST).
Make no mistake, the minimum requirement of the home fans is that the Selecao perform a victory lap at the Maracana Stadium on July 14. Anything less will be deemed as failure.
With a squad of 23 that all ply their trades at the very summit of club football, it will be difficult to predict exactly how Luis Felipe Scolari will line-up his team.
It is likely that Brazil will heed to local calls for an attacking presence, with Neymar, Fred and Hulk all likely to start, while starting with a back three and employing both Maicon and Dani Alves as wingbacks.
Local fans will undoubtedly be thrilled at the attacking mindset, however this may cause defensive instability, and see the Braziians outnumbered in the midfield battle for possession. Should Scolari opt for a more conservative approach, the likes of Fernandinho, Ramires and Luiz Gustavo are all ready and waiting.
But regardless of what shape the Brazilians take, only one result is tolerable.
So within this prism of Brazilian dreams, where does Croatia fit? A case can be made that in a relatively simple Group A, the two best teams on paper are on deck first up.
Croatia’s creative outlets come via their Real Madrid maestro Luka Modric, as well Sevilla playmaker Ivan Rakitic. One player to keep an eye out for is Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who is a rising gem.
But up front is where Vatreni’s quality is telling, with Mario Mandzukic top of the pack, along with a fine supporting act of Ivica Olic, Eduardo da Silva and Hull City’s Nikica Jelavic.
And no Australian fan dare forget Darijo Srna’s superb free kick from 2006. Underestimate him with a dead ball at your peril.
The danger for Croatia is that a loss makes progression a much harder assignment, as they will be playing catch-up to Mexico and Cameroon for the rest of the group stage. On that basis, Vatreni’s former captain and now coach Niko Kovac (he who scored a goal so horribly spilt over the line by Zeljko Kalac in 2006) may employ a pragmatic approach to prevent any opening day setback.
In short, Brazil are at home and should win a game to help satisfy the pre-tournament hype. Look for a ravenous Brazilian crowd to spur their team on in attack, and potentially Croatia to pose a threat on the counter. Croatia will know they have the quality to play spoilsport and leave Sao Paulo with three points.
The only question is if the Brazilian perspective has considered this, or whether their expectations are so high that it renders Croatia as simply irrelevant within their grand plans.
KICK-OFF: Brazil & Croatia are underway! The wait is over. #joinin #WorldCup #BRACRO – http://t.co/xxtmLp3e67 pic.twitter.com/7rCzdPSU2m
— FIFAWorldCup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 12, 2014
Ajanaku .B.Prince
Guest
Yes i agree with your point.I expected Brazil to win without the help of the referee.
asabre checkbonster
Guest
asamoah gyan all der way no size
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Davo - I am not referring to a particular period in my own life or football history. However, suggesting simply from four sentences online that I "don't really follow the sport" is, I think, a pretty long bow. I'm hardly an expert on most sports (!!) and will declare my first sporting love is cricket. However, I have long enjoyed watching the world game (my first World Cup telly viewing was in 1990, and I've seen portions of every tournament since... I have also on-and-off attended Adelaide United A-League games at Hindmarsh when in SA as I now live interstate, etc). I am not ignorant of the sport itself and am most certainly not "bashing" the sport itself either. I totally get and appreciate it's place as the most popular on the planet. And yes, the World Cup is the big-time important event indeed. And my comments above, while rather off-the-cuff perhaps and loosely-phrased, are not my "usual" and/or only line of thought regarding the sport. Was the penalty understandably given (contact, whether we like it or not, inside the box?) - yes. Could I totally understand that refs have waved away far worse I'm sure? - yes. Did I think Brazil deserved a 2-0 win in open play? - yes. The own goal was their own fault and the penalty did look let's say rather 'soft' as penalty decisions go. But does this mean I don't follow the sport or am usually the kind of person to ignorantly bash it? - no.
Chabala
Guest
I expected brazil to win but not with the hand of the referee. Its shame that the referee had to help Brazil win the Match. Every decision seem to go against Croatia. Fifa should clean up their house its full of scandals
Davo
Guest
Shame you missed the first half. Was much better quality. Im going to assume when you say "anymore" you are probably not referring to any particular time in history as you don't really follow the sport. Just an expert who catches glimpses of the "big games" is that right? Give us some analytical insight into the way they played rather than the usual ignorant football bashing comments..
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Well done Vas! Nice work mate.
Wooden
Guest
To win World Cups you need Plenty of Luck. Today every decision went the way of Brasil, has to be the worst ref I have seen at a major tournament in many a year!
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Vas - watched the second half on SBS this morning. Ah, the dirty cheating diving and fake injury exaggeration has started already (from both teams). With the seriously under-pressure kingpin Mr Blatter looking on from the stands. So sad to see such blights on the sport that can't ever be remembered for its simplicity as a beautiful game in itself any more...
Realistic joe
Guest
Croatians once again can be proud Of there team ! And there's no way brazil will win World Cup Go Argentina !! Go croatia ! Go the Aussies !!!!!!!
pete4
Guest
One eyed jack - which code do you follow? Then we'll talk about the glory
Jack
Guest
Greedy Brazil... wouldn't even let Croatia score the one goal Brazil conceded lol
paul
Guest
What the hell? how is that a penalty??? YES YES LETS FAVOUR BRAZIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MelbCro
Guest
That was robbery. So frustrated.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Really good game, agree the scoreline flattered Brazil. The penalty was a disgrace. Croatia a bit unlucky with there disallowed goal. Neymar looked very good. Both teams put on a good show although the amount of diving was a bit frustating. Oscar took the goal very well. Come on Socceroos !
Batou
Guest
Mate, with some of the tackling that he let Croatia get away with, that is probably exactly the kind of ref we need!
pete4
Guest
Let's be honest the scoreline was flattering for Brazil Poor penalty decision changed the match. Hope we don't get a referee like that against us tomorrow!!
JCAT
Roar Rookie
I forgot to enter my tips for this match D: and I would've got it right D':
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Good call Vas.
AZ_RBB
Guest
did he say "for me, the refs were a disgrace but Neymar showed individual brilliance with his imagination and fantasy"
Rellum
Roar Guru
I get up in time to see Ned already calling the refs a disgrace.