World Cup 2014 Group A

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Brazil squad
Mexico squad
Croatia squad
Cameroon squad

Group A fixtures (Kick-off Irish time)

12 June 2014
Brazil 3 v 1 Croatia, Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, 9pm (ITV)
13 June 2014
Mexico 1 v 0 Cameroon, Arena das Dunas, Natal, 5pm (ITV)
17 June 2014
Brazil v Mexico, Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, 8pm (BBC)
18 June 2014
Cameroon v Croatia, Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 11pm (ITV)
23 June 2014
Brazil v Cameroon, Estadio Nacional, Brasilia, 9pm (ITV)
23 June 2014
Mexico v Croatia, Arena Pernambuco, Recife, 9pm (ITV)


BBC Group A preview

Group A Odds

The stadia

Kerrigooney

Brazil and Mexico to qualify.

aodea

Brazil and croatia for me.

If the brazilians destroy croatia in the first game maybe thier thier confidence will be gone but see them being too strong for Mexico and Cameroon.

Top scorer in group: Fred
Best defence: Brazil
Most goals conceded: Mexico

kevohmsford

Brazil and Croatia to qualify.

Looper007

I think Brazil and Croatia to qualify but I don't expect Brazil to walk this, I see them slipping under the pressure they be under. Expect a shock defeat but they will qualify by the skin of their teeth. Cameron might run a few of them close and Mexico you just never know with the weather and if they play as a team they might shock and get out of this group.

keano_afc

Brazil and Mexico for me. I'm only tipping the Mexicans because its in SA. Reckon Croatia will get beat in the opening game and they'll struggle then against Mexico.

Does anybody know when Mario Mandzukic ban is up?

Looper007

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Does anybody know when Mario Mandzukic ban is up?

He miss the Brazil game and he be back after that.

SteelyDanJalapeno

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Does anybody know when Mario Mandzukic ban is up?

Misses this game

xtal191

Croatia to top this group

xtal191

xtal191 wrote: »

Croatia to top this group

Great price to beat Brazil tonight @ 11/1 but with the above missing it will be tough ask.

RayCon

Draw in the opener ...

McGrath5

I think Croatia may spring a surprise tonight and get a result, with all the pressure on Brazil to get of to a winning start.

fearrua

I reckon it could come down to goal difference as to who qualifies along with Brazil, it should be a really interesting group because Cameroon, Croatia and Mexico are all decent sides.

Can't wait for it to start, I'm so flippin' excited!

Johner

BRA XI Cesar; D.Alves, T.Silva, D.Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho, L.Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred

CRO XI Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Vrsaijko, Brozovic, Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, Olic, Jelavic.

Timmyctc

Im so excited :pac:

SantryRed

No Kovacic?!?

SantryRed

Twitter is showing two different line ups for Croatia, one with Kovacic and one without. Have the teams been up on ITV or RTE yet?

LostBoy101

I feel Croatia have a good chance of winning here to be honest. They have a solid midfield who can cause problems for the Brasil defence.

the incredible pudding

BBC say he's starting on the website. Pranjic being dropped is a bit surprising but i guess they probably feel they've enough creative attack minded central midfielders. Croatia could really dominate the ball here.

SantryRed

the incredible pudding wrote: »

BBC say he's starting on the website. Pranjic being dropped is a bit surprising but i guess they probably feel they've enough creative attack minded central midfielders. Croatia could really dominate the ball here.

Their first line up didn't have him playing :pac: I assume he's playing so.

Lucas Hood

Barca and Man City is a now a classico according to Dunphy.

Dunphy lol, luiz would be a liability in the loi

Darkglasses

Buzzing for this one, let's go Croatia!

Now that's the way to sing an anthem! Take note Irish players

Nuri Sahin

Luis Gustavo's moustache is magnificent.

Darkglasses

I've made a match thread here, presume there's enough people watching the opener for it to be worthwhile

Son Of A Vidic

Been a Brazil fan since watching the great Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Eder and that magical team of 1982. This current squad is virtually un-Brazilian in comparison. I fear an over exposure to European football has sapped the magic out of them.

mike65

I hate to mention it but after the defeat for Croatia does anyone suspect this could end up a tactical draw between Mexico and Cameroon? One point each today would keep both in the hunt, a loss pretty much scuppers them. If its even after say 70 minutes I expect a very slow end to the game

Brazil 3
Croatia 0
Mexico -
Cameroon -

mike65

mike65 wrote: »

I hate to mention it but after the defeat for Croatia does anyone suspect this could end up a tactical draw between Mexico and Cameroon? One point each today would keep both in the hunt, a loss pretty much scuppers them. If its even after say 70 minutes I expect a very slow end to the game

Brazil 3
Croatia 0
Mexico -
Cameroon -

Can't see why Mexico won't go for the win, it's there most likely chance of getting 3 points.

mike65

M!Ck^ wrote: »

Can't see why Mexico won't go for the win, it's there most likely chance of getting 3 points.

The fear of loosing is much stronger than the hope of winning.

mike65

mike65 wrote: »

The fear of loosing is much stronger than the hope of winning.

True, I agree to an extent above possibly caused by first match jitters.

But I do really think Mexico should just go for it.
Cameroon could be classed as the cannon fodder of the group, if they can't beat them they haven't a hope of getting anything against Brazil / Croatia.

Timmyctc

mike65 wrote: »

The fear of loosing is much stronger than the hope of winning.

I'd wager you're completely wrong and Mexico will win.

yaboya1

Although Croatia played well last night and are probably the better of the remaining three teams, I fear that their coming fixtures in two of the more difficult venues climate-wise might prove their undoing.
It's a pity really as they are probably amongst the top sides in the tournament as they were in Euro 2012, but have been desperately unlucky with the draw again.

yaboya1

yaboya1 wrote: »

Although Croatia played well last night and are probably the better of the remaining three teams, I fear that their coming fixtures in two of the more difficult venues climate-wise might prove their undoing.
It's a pity really as they are probably amongst the top sides in the tournament as they were in Euro 2012, but have been desperately unlucky with the draw again.

Not with manzukic coming back to the fold. I think they will be stronger.

A lot seemed overly concerned about weather conditions, player conditioning shouldn't be a concern. Unless extra time is involved.

padders67

really hope Mexico do a number on Cameroon , the arrogance of Cameroon pre our game in WC 2002 was sickening .

although Mexico's behaviour in USA 94 wasn't great either !

padders67

padders67 wrote: »

really hope Mexico do a number on Cameroon , the arrogance of Cameroon pre our game in WC 2002 was sickening .

although Mexico's behaviour in USA 94 wasn't great either !

Bring back John Aldridge

Timmyctc

padders67 wrote: »

really hope Mexico do a number on Cameroon , the arrogance of Cameroon pre our game in WC 2002 was sickening .

although Mexico's behaviour in USA 94 wasn't great either !

Tbf now you're talking about teams 12 and 20 years ago :P

SantryRed

mike65 wrote: »

The fear of loosing is much stronger than the hope of winning.

A draw between the two teams would completely suit Croatia! They'd only need 4 points to qualify from the last two, assuming Brazil win both games.

Timmyctc

Mexico could and should be 2 up. More awful officiating.

briancarrol692

My bold prediction is that Spain will not qualify from their group.
Controversial!!

Washington Irving

briancarrol692 wrote: »

My bold prediction is that Spain will not qualify from their group.
Controversial!!

It would have been this time yesterday, not so much now.