Brazil v Croatia - betting tips for 1x2

Match	Date	Selection	Bet	Odds	Bet now
Brazil v Croatia - betting tips for 1x2 World Cup 2014, International	12/06/2014 22:00	full time result	Brazil	1.33	Bet at William Hill
Betting prediction was written by Ronny

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil kicks off with the home nation facing a very strong Croatia side. The home side obviously did not have to qualify for the tournament, while Croatia finished second in their Group after Belgium, but beat Iceland in the playoffs to secure a place.

Brazilian squad

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Toronto FC/on loan from QPR), Jefferson (Botafogo), Victor (Atletico Mineiro).

Defenders: Marcelo (Real Madrid), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Maicon (AS Roma), Maxwell & Thiago Silva (both Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).

Midfielders: Paulinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Ramires (Chelsea), Willian (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Hernanes (Inter Milan), Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City).

Forwards: Bernard (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Barcelona), Fred (Fluminense), Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg).

Croatian Squad

Goalkeepers: Stipe Pletikosa (Rostov), Danijel Subasic (Monaco), Oliver Zelenika (Dinamo Zagreb).

Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld (Panathinaikos), Danijel Pranjic (Panathinaikos), Ivan Strinic (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa), Igor Bubnjic (Udinese).

Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Niko Kranjcar (Queens Park Rangers), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Vfl Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Milan Badelj (Hamburg), Ivo Ilicevic (Hamburg), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka), Mario Pasalic (Hajduk Split), Sammir (Getafe).

Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Vfl Wolfsburg), Eduardo da Silva (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina), Duje Cop (Dinamo Zagreb).

It is worth to note that the strong and skillful Mario Mandzukic will sit out due to suspension.

Warm up games

Brazil has played two friendlies leading up to the World Cup. They beat the relatively weak CONCACAF nation Panama 4-0. They controlled the game, and displayed some wonderful attacking combinations. It must be said though that Panama only managed one win in ten qualification matches for the World Cup.

The second warm up game was played in Sao Paulo against Serbia. A team that will play quite the same way as Croatia. Serbia finished third in European Qualification group A on 14 points, three behind Croatia and 12 behind Belgium. Brazil won the game 1-0, but Serbia definitely could have gotten something out of the game. It would absolutely not have been unfair at all.

Croatia has tested the waters twice as well. They beat Mali deservedly 2-1. Sevilla star man Raktic was the man of the match of me creating both goals for Wolfsburg winger Perisic.

They then went on to beat Australia 1-0 in Salvador (Brazil) on the 7th of June. Croatia also deserved to win this one, displaying a solid defense and creating more chances. Australia gave them a good match though.

Betting tips for 1x2

Croatia is an ever so slightly step up in class from Croatia so Brazil can't take lightly on this task. Brazil is of course likely to control possession in this game. Croatia will rely on a decent defense, with Southampton center back Lovren as the stand out player for me. In front of the four man back line Croatia have highly capable midfielders. Raktic and Modric are extremely talented. Up front it will be tough without Mandzukic. It is a shame he misses out for the Croats. He would be the perfect man for this job. 

I definitely expect Brazil to keep on defending with class. Their defense is in my mind without a doubt the best in world football today. Further up the pitch they got so much attacking flair players too. They can attack with skill, power and pace. I think it was good for them to get a wake up call in Serbia. There is no way they will take lightly on this task now. Only a win is good enough for the home crowd, and I think the Brazilians can deliver. 

William Hill offers 1.33 for the win on the 1x2. I think it is a good way to kick off the world cup. Preferably in combination with some of our other world cup betting tips.

• Bet now at William Hill

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