FIFA World Cup 2014: Brazil vs Croatia [12/06/2014] At 9pm

After a long wait of anticipation, tonight the world would focus on brazil, as they get the 2014 world cup underway.  Tonight the host brazil kick off the opening fixture against croatia in sao paulo (Referee: Y. Nishimura) and are highly favoured to win.

When Neymar hit the ground during training on Tuesday, it appeared as though the nightmare build-up to Brazil’s first home World Cup in 64 years had carried over onto the field as well. But the news that the Barcelona ace suffered no lasting injury to his left ankle after his awakward fall will have come as a massive relief to coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The result is that the Selecao will likely take to the field against Croatia on Thursday with the same XI which lined up in four of the five matches last summer as the host nation claimed Confederations Cup glory. Neymar will take up his usual spot just behind Fred, joining Oscar and Hulk in attacking midfield positions as part of a settled line-up.

Croatia boss Niko Kovac has no such luxuries, with Danijel Pranjic unlikely to start after he picked up a nasty ankle injury in the final warm-up fixture against Australia in Salvador at the weekend.

Who will carry the day?

BRAZIL

Julio Ceser
David Luiz• Tiago Silver• Dani  Alves• Marcelo
Luiz Gustavo• Fernandinho• Oscar
Neymer• Hulk• Fred

CROATIA

Danijel Subasic
Vedran Corluka• Dejan Lovren• Darijo Srna• Pranjic
Luka Modric• Ivan Rakitic• Kovacic• Perisic
Eduado• Mario Mandzukic