Brazil vs Croatia
And they’re stopping off in Liverpool so come on and join the party! The World Cup 2018 is nearly upon us, and who would pass up the chance to watch Brazil’s superstars in action.
Tite’s team is meeting up with Croatia at Anfield at the weekend, and there couldn’t be a better taster for World Cup 2018 in this great football city. Gabriel Jesus, Neymar, Ivan Rakitic and maybe Luka Modric will be lining up in this exciting warm-up. It may not end the disappointment for Liverpool fans returning from the Champions League final, but it’s a pretty good consolation.
Talking Points
Coach Tite has built another great Brazilian team since taking over in 2016, and one which could well lift the trophy in Russia. Whether or not that comes to pass, it will be one heck of a journey. The former Corinthians chief has won 15 of 19 games at the helm and, ranked by FIFA as the second-best side in the world, they are one of the teams to beat, certainly with the best chance of the South American outfits.
Home fans will be hoping to see Roberto Firmino make an appearance, but the Liverpool striker may well start on the bench, having played in the Champions League Final last weekend. So did Marcelo for Los Blancos, and he may also take a breather.
But the most anticipated name on Brazil’s team sheet is that of Neymar. The PSG star has been out injured since February and he’ll be desperate to get back into the thoughts of his coach Tite as the summer’s extravaganza looms. He could start alongside Manchester City’s wunderkid Gabriel Jesus, who recovered from his own injury to end the season on a high. The two of them will form a lethal partnership. And with supply and support from City team-mates Danilo and Fernandinho, Jesus is bound to hit the ground running…and fast.
Brazil stormed the South American qualifying group, beating Chile 3-0 in the final game, and are unbeaten in the last nine by winning six and drawing three. Recent victories over champions Germany and hosts Russia have signalled their intentions, while only England have held them to a draw this year. And the Samba Boys have a relatively easy group awaiting them in Russia: it includes Costa Rica, Switzerland and Croatia’s near neighbours, Serbia.
Although placed 18th in FIFA’s rankings, Croatia also have a squad capable of progressing in Russia. But the World Cup draw has dumped Zlatko Dalic’s team in the Group of Death, along with Argentina, Nigeria and Euro 2016 stars Iceland. They have as good a chance as any of getting out of it but need to show against Brazil, at Anfield, that they can mix it with the best.
Real Madrid’s Luka Modric pulls the strings for Dalic’s team and, alongside Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, he can dominate possession. But the Croatians have struggled to turn possession into goals, and Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic will be tasked with putting that right.
They won’t be an easy side to beat, with only one defeat in six and Rakitic scoring from the penalty spot against Mexico to give Croatia a 1-0 win in their latest outing.
History
There were tears and presumably ensuing nightmares throughout Brazil after the horrific thumping at the hands of Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final. Some of their players, such as David Luiz, were there to suffer the pain, but the young guns such as Gabriel Jesus don’t bear those scars. And their recent victory, albeit in a friendly, over the World Champions will have helped for sure.
After the first-ever meeting between these two teams ended in a draw, Brazil have won the two World Cup matches against Croatia, 1-0 in 2006 and then 3-1 in 2014 with a brace from Neymar, one from Oscar and an own goal by Marcelo being the Croatians’ only reply.
What are the Odds?
The Samba Boys are up there as hot tips to be World Cup winners…
In fact, you can get overall odds on them to be crowned world champions at 5.20.
Croatia have only scored more than one on one occasion in their last nine outings, while Brazil kept seven clean sheets in the last nine.
That is why Brazil are favourites Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 2.23 and you can get odds of under 2.25 goals @ 2.17.
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