Brazil FIFA Ranking 2
Mexico FIFA Ranking 14
In this fascinating World Cup 2018 where pre tournament favorites are getting knocked out one after another, soccer admirers of Brazil on HEXA mission appears to be a little worried. Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal have all gone.
Cristinao Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, two of the all time greats may never touch the most coveted trophy ever. Though Brazil is in form side having impressed all experts with their young enterprising team in qualifying round and warm up matches leading to world cup yet with injury problems they looked a little scrappy in the first match against Switzerland.
But they started unfolding against Costa Rica but had to wait till added time. Against Serbia they found their golden touch. This improving trend match after match gives Brazialin fans confidence that they may witness Brazil in full bloom in the knock out today against known contestant Mexico.
North American team Mexico surprised the soccer pundits winning against Geramny 1-0 in the very first match of group F. They looked enterprising against South Korea also. But faded a lot against Sweden in the last match of the group. They would not feel easy finding Brazil in the knock out.
In each of the past six world cup finals, Mexico was dumped in the second round. The most painful memory remains losing against Netherlands in 2014 by 2-1 only two minutes from added time.
Brazil by contrast reached last eight in all those six finals, advanced to three finals and won world cup twice. It will be a major achievement for Mexico if it can stop irresistible Selecaos in its HEXA Mission.
In all forms Brazil met Mexico 40 times in the past won 23, drew 10 and lost 7 matches. In 2014 world cup the match ended 0-0. The highest margin of win of Brazil was 5-0 in FIFA world cup 1954 and the largest margin of defeat was also 0-5 in Friendship cup in 1992.
Well history and records have not reflected so far in this tournament. 70th FIFA ranked team Russia has knocked out 10th ranked Spain. 4th ranked Portugal lost to 14th ranked Uruguay. If Brazil has to win tonight it has to produce its A game and not thinking too much about their past records and present reputations.
Going into the match Brazil is 9:1 favorites and Mexico is 3:2 out siders in pre match bookies prediction.
Brazil Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma), Ederson (Manchester City), Cassio (Corinthians Sao Paulo)
Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan), Marquinhos, Thiago Silva (both Paris Saint-Germain), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Fagner (Corinthians), Pedro Geromel (Gremio), Danilo (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Paulinho (FC Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (FC Barcelona), Willian (Chelsea), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Forwards: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Douglas Costa (Juventus), Taison (Shakhtar Donetsk), Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
By the look of it any knowledgeable soccer fan would agree that Brazil squad has the most talented group of quality players. They may not have super stars like Messi or Ronaldo. But in Neymar, Countinho, Willan , Marcelo Jesus Firminho, Thiago Silva they have plenty who can deliver when things get tight . This team has very well wiped out the unforgettable one off 1-7 humiliation by Germany in 2014.
Under Tite planning Selecaos have started playing Jogo Bonita the Samba brand that has made Brazil the firm favourites in any event they appear. It will be major upset if they cannot beat Mexico Comfortably. In this tournament Brazil so far scored 5 goals by 4 different players and conceded only one and that too a controversial penalty goal. Brazil did not look like losing in any of their group matches.
Neymar after his post operation rehabilitation is blooming gradually to his brilliant best. In the last match he engineered few moves and himself attempted few. He seldom went down from soft tackles. Marcelo arguably the best left back was injured early on against Serbia. He is not only an able defender but also a very aggressive over lapping wing back. With him and Neymar in the left Brazil creates threat to any defence.
Casimero, Paulinho and Coutniho in the mid field constantly win balls and feed the front liners with defence splitting passes. Against tall players of Serbia and Switzerland Brazil played with short quick ground passes to break into the box. Tite may change tactics today against known opposition. Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus and Liverpool Striker Firmino may play a role today.
If Brazil win to night and Belgium also wins the Belgium Brazil Quarter Final will witness Epic Contest. Remember Brazil is 2nd and Belgium is 3rd ranked team in FIFA ranking.
Brazil has already made such an impact that teams like England and Belgium had to ponder seriously in their last group match whether to enter in to possibility of meeting them in the knock out.
We predict a 3-1 win for Brazil today.
BDST: 0933 HRS, JUL 2, 2018
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