FIRST POST : BRAZIL V. CROATIA

Welcome!

I give you the pleasure of joining me in this awesome time in the footballing world. As you may know, my name is Ricardo and I am a massive fan of soccer. With that in mind, this blog is a continuation of 90 and more, a side project during the 2010 footballing season in which I experimented with my writing style and platforms with which to branch out into football journalism and analysis. However, things have turned out differently yet I am back with my predictions, analysis, and love for the game burning even brighter than before.


The setup will be I shall be posting about the World Cup, my predictions for the games that are two days away, as well as providing analysis on the game's that have been played. So effectively, today you will be reading my analysis on the

Group A Matchups:
BRASIL V. CROATIA
MEXICO V. CAMEROON

I welcome all my friends to this and without further ado, here we go!

Brasil v. Croatia

Brazil:
 (predicted) lineup (4-3-3, 2 DMs, Free #10):
Julio Cesar ; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo ; Luis Gustavo, Paulinho, Oscar ; Hulk, Fred, Neymar.

Croatia

(predicted) lineup (4-2-3-1, 2 deep playing midfielders)
Pletikosa ; Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Pranjic ; Modric, Rakitic ; Perisic, Kovacic, Olic ; Mandzukic

Players to Watch: 

Brazil: 

David Luiz on his day is an absolute, incredible and rampant beast on the field. His aggressive play and his tendency to bomb forward in attack are both huge reasons as to why PSG were willing to pay out the ass and make him one of the highest transfer fees ever commanded by a defender. However, David Luiz was one of the most highly scrutinized players on Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side for his high profile defensive lapses, especially in big games. With this, Gary Cahill was able to cement his place into the Chelsea side and form a reliable center back partnership with John Terry. David Luiz has Thiago Silva providing cover as he is able to bomb forward, should he be able to quell his demon, I see David Luiz having an absolute romp in the World Cup Debut.

Oscar is an anomaly of a player. In one moment, he is providing threaded assists that tear defenses into pieces at a whim. At another moment, he's invisible in a game. The man who made his debut scoring an absolute BLOOTER against Juventus has been handed the 11 in the Brazil squad yet will effectively be playing in the famed 10 position, a role casually held by Brazilians such as Pele, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho. Oscar will be playing on the biggest stage for the first time in his life, and to say doubt the youngster is up to the task is a fair assessment. His season with Chelsea was average (11 goals in 47 games) yet it was one in which he never had a decent run of games as injuries were hampering Oscar's ability to impose himself on the starting lineup (couple that with a massive squad and frequent rotations put in place by Mourinho). With the opportunity to come in and have Scolari entrust him to create magic, Oscar (very much like David Luiz) will be able to orchestrate a blistering attack or be the scapegoat should Brazil slack in the opening match.


Neymar is, of course, the face of the Brazil team. The flamboyant and quick 21 year old has had a mild showing in his first season of Barcelona. In my humble opinion, Barcelona's currently style of play (the infamous tiki-taka employed by Pep and continued by Vilanova, Roura, and Tata) does not suit, and eventually hampers, the abilities and of players such as Neymar or Alexis Sanchez, who are more direct and power forward coming in off the wing to create/have a shot on goal. But that is a side matter. Neymar will be on his game in the opening match. He thrives for Brazil, is able to draw 2 defending players on to him and thereby open space for his teammates. The question is whether the Croatia defense will be able to nullify Neymar, touted as the face of the Brazilian National Team for this World Cup, and for the future of Brazilian football.

Croatia: 

Luka Modric absolutely decimated and thrived in his role at Real Madrid in his sophomore year. The trio of Xabi Alonso, Modric (both of these players playing in deep playmaker roles), and Angel di Maria were the trident that saw Real Madrid claim the double with the Copa del Rey and la Decima (the Champions League). Modric will assume an almost identical role in the Croatia set up, partnering with Ivan Rakitic, both of whom will be accompanied by Ivan Perisic in the middle of the park, feeding Mario Manduzkic. Manduzkic is very much able to make the diagonal runs across the defense, thereby allowing Modric to send balls for the (tentatively) former Bayern Munich striker to latch on.

Ivan Rakitic, if I was asked to provide an image for those less aware of this marvelous player, would be if you take Luka Modric and his creativity with his blistering pace, combine that with Xabi Alonso's vision to play from deep, yet throw in Yaya Toure's strength and tendency to bomb forward and you have Ivan Rakitic, an industrious and bustling forward just signed this Tuesday to FC Barcelona. The combination play between Modric and Rakitic will essentially dictate Croatia's attack as a whole. Perisic and Olic play out wide and will be looking to latch on to diagonal passes from deep and thereby hopefully catching Brazil's flank backs (Marcelo, Dani Alves) out of position (something in which both players are susceptible to).

Darijo Srna will have a rough time in the opening match. Srna is an effective wingback. He's able to assist in the attack, provide crosses to Manduzkic, who is an absolute lion floating in midair, as well as is able to get on the scoresheet with the cannon he has a for a right foot. Yet, this is not what Croatia needs on Thursday. Neymar will be in form, having been rested from the ankle injury he sustained in the ending to the Spanish League. Srna will have to be restrained in not bombing too forward in that Brazil has a lightning attack on the counter. Neymar will be looking to be cutting in off the right, as well as Hulk on the opposite flank will surely be interchanging positions with the Barcelona striker in giving the Croatian defense trouble.

Key Battles 

• Thiago Silva v. Mario Manduzkic - battle of aerial titans. 

• Paulinho & Luis Gustavo v. Luka Modric & Ivan Rakitic  - whichever pair foregoes their defensive duties to attack, will effectively lose the game. 

• The Croatia backline v. Hulk, Fred, Neymar - diagonal runs and through balls, coupled with Fred poaching in the 6 yard box, will be giving especially Corluka and Lovren a rough time on Thursday.

Impact Subs:

Brazil 

Ramires, Bernard, Willian, Hernanes.

Croatia

Eduardo, Brozovic.

Final Predictions: 

Brazil 2 - 1 Croatia

It's the opening game. Brazil will be spurred on to win from the crowd, coupled with the Brazilian team needing to show and make a statement. Croatia will put up a fight, I can see the game going the other way, yet my safe bet, as well as for my FIRST POST, I will go the rational route and say Brazil come out on top.