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Brazil vs Croatia Prediction & Betting tips
At their home World Cup four years ago, Brazil played the opening game against Croatia and won in the end despite an early own goal in front of Marcelo 3-1. Matchwinner was Neymar just four years ago, who scored two goals to win. On Sunday, just before the start of the World Cup in Russia, the two national teams will play a test match at Anfield in Liverpool. Neymar will miss this showdown. After treating the most expensive footballer in the world during a Selecao training session after a seemingly new injury, a whole nation is worried and hopes that their key player will get fit in time.
Brazil:
Brazil was the first team to secure a ticket to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals next to their automatically qualified hosts Russia. Already in March last year the participation of the record world champion was established. In the qualification of South America, Brazil prevailed uncontested at the end. After eighteen games, Brazil came away with twelve wins, five draws and only one defeat on Matchday 1 in Chile. Thus Brazil had in the final bill ten points more than the second from Uruguay and even thirteen more than rival Argentina. With 41:11 goals set the Selecao not only the best attack, but also the best defense. Brazil have been unbeaten for a total of nine internationals and have won six of them.
In seven of these last nine games, Brazil have kept their box tight, last three times in a goalless draw in England, 3-0 against hosts Russia and a 1-0 win in the Berlin Olympic Stadium against the reigning world champion Germany. In fact, the Brazilian national team lost only one of their last 19 international matches. That was a 2: 3 in a friendly against the Gauchos from Argentina. After the disappointing home World Cup at the end, when Brazil experienced their personal Waterloo at the 1: 7 in the semi-final against Germany, the Selecao in Russia is now reaching for the sixth star. Among the betting operators, Brazil is also considered the top favorite for winning the World Cup.
Croatia:
Brazil was the first qualifier for the World Cup, Croatia one of the last. After a second place in a group with Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland and Kosovo, the Croats had to go the detour through the playoffs, but there they made everything clear in the first leg. At home, Croatia beat the visitors from Greece 4: 1. Away with the Greeks then handed a goalless draw for the fifth overall participation in a World Cup. Following the successful qualification Croatia played only two more test matches. While the team around Mario Mandzukic lost 2-0 against Peru, the Croats were able to win 1-0 with Mexico.
In the group phase of the World Cup in Russia, Croatia will have to deal with Iceland and also with Nigeria and Argentina, as in the qualification. It is certainly a feasible group for the 1998 World Cup third. The strongest competitor is undoubtedly Argentina. With Brazil as a test, the Croats have chosen an adequate opponent. Coach Zlatko Dalic reduced his squad relatively early. Only one player will have to refuse the dream of participating in the World Cup in Russia. With Luka Modric of Real Madrid, Ivan Rakitic of FC Barcelona or the aforementioned Mandzukic of Juventus, Croatia has plenty of potential in its ranks.
Brazil vs Croatia head to head matches
12.06.14 WC Brazil Croatia 3 : 1
13.06.06 WC Brazil Croatia 1 : 0
17.08.05 FI Croatia Brazil 1 : 1