Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side will look to the put the troubles in the lead up to the big kick off behind them by recording an emphatic win in Sao Paulo
When Neymar hit the ground during training on Tuesday, it appeared as though the nightmare build-up to Brazil’s first home World Cup in 64 years had carried over onto the field as well. But the news that the Barcelona ace suffered no lasting injury to his left ankle after his awakward fall will have come as a massive relief to coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The result is that the Selecao will likely take to the field against Croatia on Thursday with the same XI which lined up in four of the five matches last summer as the host nation claimed Confederations Cup glory. Neymar will take up his usual spot just behind Fred, joining Oscar and Hulk in attacking midfield positions as part of a settled line-up.
Croatia boss Niko Kovac has no such luxuries, with Danijel Pranjic unlikely to start after he picked up a nasty ankle injury in the final warm-up fixture against Australia in Salvador at the weekend. The Panathinaikos defender joins fellow left-back Ivan Strinic on the sidelines, but unlike the Dnipro man he remains in the squad with an outside chance of featuring.
Genoa’s Sime Vrsaljko stands by to take Pranjic’s place, although Vedran Corluka could move to the flank with Dynamo Kiev’s Domagoj Vida starting in the centre of defence.
Nikica Jelavic is likely to lead the line in attack after the Hull City striker netted the only goal against the Socceroos. Mario Mandzukic, who admitted this week that his time with Bayern Munich is over, sits out the opening fixture through suspension follow his sending-off for serious foul play in the World Cup qualifying play-off against Iceland in November, with Jelavic his most natural replacement.
Kovac, who skippered his country in their short-lived 2006 World Cup campaign in Germany which also began against Brazil, does at least have Ivan Rakitic and Luka Modric to choose from in midfield, with Eduardo, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic all fit to join them in a five-man engine room.
Opta Facts
-The host nation has never lost their opening World Cup game, with the 20 previous hosts winning 14 and drawing six of their openers.
-Brazil’s one previous tournament as hosts saw them defeat fellow 2014 Group A members Mexico 4-0 in their opening game (1950).
-Eight of the last 12 opening matches at World Cups have produced one goal or less.
-Brazil are taking part in their 20th World Cup. They are the only team to have taken part in every single tournament.
-A Selecao have won the most games (67) and scored the most goals (210) at the World Cup.
-Brazil have won eight of their last nine World Cup games in the group stages (1 draw). Their last defeat dates back to 23 June 1998 against Norway (1-2).
-Croatia have only conceded 11 goals in 13 World Cup games (0.85/game). It’s the best ratio among the 32 teams taking part in 2014.
-Croatia’s last nine World Cup games have produced six red cards.
-Brazil won their one previous competitive meeting with Croatia 1-0 in the 2006 World Cup; Kaka scored the winner in Berlin that day.
