World Cup hosts Brazil needed some help from a controversial call, as well as from star striker Neymar, to get their tournament off to a winning start against Croatia. Brazil can now virtually secure a place in the last 16 with another win against Group A challengers Mexico, who made a more impressive start to their World Cup campaign against Cameroon.
Top Bet’s complete game prediction for Brazil to win its first match 3-1 was spot on. Will our prediction that Brazil wins 2-0 over Mexico also come to fruition? Get a few easy questions from our World Cup contest spot on and win $500 just like that.
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Brazil vs. Mexico, World Cup 2014, Group Stage Betting Preview and Prediction
Brazil should consider themselves lucky that they escaped their first match against Croatia with all three points. The hosts started slow, and even went behind through a Marcelo own-goal, the first one the country has conceded in World Cup history. But a dubious penalty was awarded after an alleged foul on Fred, which sent them on their way to a 3-1 win.
[sc:WorldCup2014-240 ]It was hardly a championship-caliber performance from Brazil, but considering the amount of pressure those Brazilian players must’ve felt – as the favorites for the World Cup in their own country – which likely affected their play, it was an excellent result nonetheless.
With three points in the bag, expect at least some of the pressure to be released from a Brazilian team that looked uncharacteristically poor in its passing and movement. This could unleash some of the free-flowing, attacking football the country’s so famous for.
It’s a good thing for Brazil that Neymar appears immune to such pressure. The Brazilian star stepped up when everyone else was underperforming to score their equalizer, as well as the winning penalty. With Neymar in fine form and scoring goals, Brazil is a major threat to score every time it goes forward.
Brazil should also be lifted by Oscar’s very impressive all-around game. The crafty midfielder was seemingly everywhere vs. Croatia, setting up his teammates and even scoring himself. Mexico is a team that will overload the midfield area to disrupt Brazil’s possession, but Oscar’s intelligent movement and technical ability could be the key to unlocking that congested area en route to Mexico’s goal.
Mexico seem to have put their recent disappointing performances behind them, as they delivered an outstanding display in their 1-0 win over Cameroon. Mexico’s unorthodox 3-5-2 formation flummoxed the Indomitable Lions, and it could have a similar effect group favorites with Brazil.
Mexico completely dominated the midfield zone by crowding it with five players; as a result, they controlled possession (58 percent to 42 percent) throughout the match. This tactic could force Brazil to have its wide forwards, Neymar and Hulk, work more defensively to avoid a similar fate. More defensive effort for those two means potentially less energy for them to threaten Mexico’s goal.
Speaking of wide men, Mexico’s wingbacks Paul Aguilar and Miguel Layun were excellent against Cameroon. They made the numbers in midfield and consistently supported the team’s attacks. Arguably Brazil’s main weakness lies in their attack-minded fullbacks’ ill-disciplined defending. Aguilar and Layun could have some space to exploit if Brazil fails to address this issue against Mexico.
Up front, Giovani dos Santos was a constant threat in attack and provided ample support for front man Oribe Peralta. Peralta scored the winning goal against Cameroon, while dos Santos could have scored two goals himself had they not been incorrectly disallowed. dos Santos’ mobility and industry will make him a hard cover for the Brazilian defense. Likewise, don’t discount Peralta’s ability to keep coming up with crucial goals. He scored twice in Mexico’s 2-1 win over Brazil in the 2012 Olympic gold medal game.
Writer’s Prediction
Brazil finally loosens up and plays the attacking football it’s capable of. With the help of Oscar, Neymar tightens his grip on the Golden Boot to fire his team to victory. Take Brazil to win and cover the spread of -1.5 goals.
