Brazil move onto their second game of the current World Cup campaign after the 3-1 defeat of Croatia which stirred up some controversy over poor refereeing decisions by Yuichi Nakamura. The favorites despite winning their first by a two goal margin were a bit too shaky owing to a lot of pressure and a few not-so-smart decisions pertaining to their midfield made by manager Luis Felipe Scolari. The Mexicans too had a good first game barring the faux by the referee who disallowed two legit goals as they dominated the Cameroonian side. This game is in no way an easy tie for the South Americans as the Mexicans look like an able opponent.
Players to look out for:
As expected, Neymar scored a brace in the first game. He will have hopes pinned on him to perform his magic, this time around too. Another key player for the Selecao is midfielder Oscar, who has played two, against the Mexicans. Giovani dos Santos, striker for the Mexicans, scored two goals against Cameroon and both were disallowed. He will pose a threat to his opponents’ defense with his quick runs. The North American’s defensive line up will be tested by the beastly Brazilian attack hence it remains to be seen how well they will hold up.
Probable line-ups:
Brazil (4-2-3-1): Cesar; Alves, Luiz, Silva, Marcelo; Gustavo, Paulinho; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Mexico (5-3-2): Ochoa; Aguilar, Moreno, Marquez, Rodriguez, Layun; Guardado, Vazquez, Herrera; Dos Santos, Peralta.
Team head-to-head: The two teams have played 38 matches between them of which Brazil have won 22 and Mexico has won 10. 6 games have ended in a draw.
Predictions: Brazil will be looking for blood as they were cheated out of a potential gold medal by the Mexicans. Expect a fierce match with both of them vying for a victory as winners will almost confirm their Last 16 spot.
Final Score Prediction: Brazil 2-1 Mexico
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