Match Preview: Brazil v Mexico

Who is playing?
Brazil v Mexico. Group A. Tuesday 16th June 2000 BST



Where are they playing?
Estádio Castelão, Fortaleza

Arena Castelão is located in the south of the city of Fortaleza, about 6 miles from the Dragão do Mar area and Iracema beach.

The stadium has been extensively upgraded for the tournament. The bottom tier has been been completely rebuilt, the top tier refurbished and a new roof installed.


Can I watch it on the telly?
You can. It's on the BBC.

Big game?
Massive.

Brazil may have trotted out 3-1 winners over Croatia, but I bet you were swearing at the ref while you were watching it. We were.

Neymar can consider himself a very lucky lad to have still been on the pitch to score Brazil's opener, the penalty award was a total joke and there were countless other decisions that niggled.

Certainly if Croatia has a half decent keeper, things could have turned out very differently and that Brazilian back line doesn't look like it could survive an all out offensive onslaught.

If the host want to win the hearts and minds of those of us not wearing yellow, they have much to prove.

Mexico had to overcome the Cameroons and the dodgy ref and linos in their opening game. They won't make it easy for the host nation.

Fascinating Brazil fact?
The statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro weighs 635 tonnes, is 38 metres high including its pedestal and was named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”

Any famous Mexicans?
Salma Hayek, can't get better than that.

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 Mexico?
Goalkeepers: Jose de Jesus Corona (Cruz Azul), Guillermo Ochoa (Ajaccio), Alfredo Talavera (Toluca).
Defenders: Miguel Layun (America), Carlos Salcido (Tigres), Paul Aguilar (America), Andres Guardado (Bayer Leverkusen), Hector Moreno (Espanyol), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (America), Diego Reyes (Porto), Rafael Marquez (Leon).

Midfielders: Miguel Angel Ponce (Toluca), Jose Juan Vazquez (Leon), Luis Montes (Leon), Hector Herrera (Porto), Isaac Brizuela (Toluca), Marco Fabian (Cruz Azul), Carlos Pena (Leon).

Forwards: Oribe Peralta (Santos), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal), Raul Jimenez (America), Alan Pulido (Tigres).

Mario Jorge Lobo Zagalo

Any useless stats and info?
Of course, here you go:

• The two nations have faced each other on 38 occasions, Brazil winning 22, Mexico 10 and there have been 6 draws.

• They first met at 1950 World Cup. Brazil's Marques de Ademir Menezes scored twice in a 4-0 win.

• Their last World Cup encounter was in Chile in 1962. Mario Jorge Lobo Zagalo and Pele got the goals as Brazil won 2-0.

• Mexico's last win over Brazil was as recently as June 2012. Javier Hernandez scored a penalty as Mexico won 2-0.

Prediction:
Sorry Mexico, got to go with a Brazil win, let's hope it's a fair fight though.

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