Brazil v Croatia, Thursday 12 June Kick-off: 21:00 BST
Where are they playing?
Arena de Sao Paulo aka Itaquerao , Sao Paulo
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| World Cup opens in an unfinished stadium |
After inspecting the Itaquerao stadium, authorities said it would be safe to use the stands during the high-profile match between Brazil and Croatia on Thursday.
The stands behind one of the goals were not approved for the final test event at the stadium last week because of safety concerns. The installation of the temporary seats was delayed mostly because of an accident earlier this year.
Thursday is the first time the Itaquerao will have a capacity crowd.
Thursday is the first time the Itaquerao will have a capacity crowd.
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| Brazil booed in warm up match |
Can I watch it on the telly?
You can. itv are covering the opener with their Adrian Chiles hosted coverage beginning a full two hours before kick off. The show will include live pictures of the opening ceremony.
Big game?
The opening of The World Cup is always a big occasion and so is a match in the tournament that features Brazil. Croatia are no slouches and will be looking to upset the apple cart here, taking advantage of the pressure that Brazilians will no doubt be under.
A partisan crowd should see Brazil over the line but questions are being asked about Felipe Scolari's tactics and the team were booed at half and full time as they took on Serbia in a warm up.
Any famous Brazilians?
Outside of football, probably the best known is the late, great Ayrton Senna. Fruit wearing actress and dancer Carmen Miranda made it big in Hollywood.
Any famous Croatians?
Actor Eric Bana has a Croatian father.
Who's playing for Brazil?
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 (Paris St-Germain), Thiago Silva (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).
Who's playing for Croatia?
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, Danijel Pranjic (both Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa).
Midfielders: Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dynamo Kiev), Ivan Perisic (Wolfsburg), Mateo Kovacic (Inter Milan), Marcelo Brozovic (Dinamo Zagreb), Sammir (Getafe), Ivan Mocinic (Rijeka).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).
Any useless stats and info?
Of course, here you go:
A close opener, narrow win to Brazil.
You can. itv are covering the opener with their Adrian Chiles hosted coverage beginning a full two hours before kick off. The show will include live pictures of the opening ceremony.
Big game?
The opening of The World Cup is always a big occasion and so is a match in the tournament that features Brazil. Croatia are no slouches and will be looking to upset the apple cart here, taking advantage of the pressure that Brazilians will no doubt be under.
A partisan crowd should see Brazil over the line but questions are being asked about Felipe Scolari's tactics and the team were booed at half and full time as they took on Serbia in a warm up.Outside of football, probably the best known is the late, great Ayrton Senna. Fruit wearing actress and dancer Carmen Miranda made it big in Hollywood.
Any famous Croatians?
Actor Eric Bana has a Croatian father.
Who's playing for Brazil?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 (Paris St-Germain), Thiago Silva (Paris St-Germain), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Henrique (Napoli).
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| Neymar's girlfriend |
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).
Defenders: Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dejan Lovren (Southampton), Vedran Corluka (Lokomotiv Moscow), Gordon Schildenfeld, Danijel Pranjic (both Panathinaikos), Domagoj Vida (Dynamo Kiev), Sime Vrsaljko (Genoa).
Forwards: Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich), Ivica Olic (Wolfsburg), Eduardo (Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikica Jelavic (Hull City), Ante Rebic (Fiorentina).
Of course, here you go:
- The two nations have faced each other twice, resulting in a draw and a win for Brazil
- Niko Kranjcar gave Croatia the lead in the first encounter in August 2005. Luis Ricardinho equalised for Brazil. Aston Villa misfit Bosco Balaban made a substitute appearance in the game.
- At the World Cup in Germany 2006, Brazil beat Croatia by a single Kaka goal in Berlin. This was Croatia's first defeat in 11 competitive matches and Brazil's eighth consecutive wins in the World Cup finals.
A close opener, narrow win to Brazil.
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