please log in to view this image Group A 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP Venue: Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Date: Thursday, 12 June Kick-off: 21:00 BST Coverage: ITV, BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website, highlights on BBC TV TEAM NEWS World Cup hosts Brazil are expected to face Croatia with the same starting line-up that beat Spain in last summer's Confederations Cup final. That means playmaker Oscar is likely to start despite his recent poor form and a Brazilian media lobby for his Chelsea team-mate Willian. Croatia are without suspended striker Mario Mandzukic, so Nikica Jelavic or Eduardo will deputise. Sime Vrsaljko will play at left-back in place of the injured Danijel Pranjic. Croatia made a last-minute change to their squad on Wednesday, with Milan Badelj replacing injured midfielder Ivan Mocinic. MATCH PREVIEW After 820 qualifying matches involving 202 teams, the nation synonymous with the beautiful game is finally ready, just, to host football's greatest event. For all the legitimate arguments about whether the cost of the most expensive World Cup in history would have been better spent on more pressing needs, the Brazilian obsession with football will surely dictate that passionate protests will be largely replaced by fervent support if the national team hit the ground running. That was the case 12 months ago, when Brazil won the Confederations Cup and restored the team's identity and public belief. Head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who guided Brazil to their last world title in 2002, has previously said he is "100% confident" Brazil will win this summer and he was in impassioned mood on the eve of Thursday's tournament opener against Croatia. "To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup," he said. "There are seven steps. The first step is tomorrow against Croatia. After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup." Barcelona forward Neymar added: "I am anxious of course but also I'm extremely happy being where I am today because many people would like to be here. "I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup." No host nation has ever lost their opening World Cup game, but opponents Croatia are hoping to exploit the impatience displayed by the home crowd when Brazil laboured to victory against Serbia in their final warm-up match. Croatia coach Niko Kovac said of Brazil: "It seems they are expected not only to win all their games but also play entertaining football too and that is our chance. The longer we hold our own the more anxious they will get and we want to make it as difficult as possible for them. "We certainly won't park the bus in our penalty box, we want to have a real go at them and are confident that we can get a result. "I am optimistic we're not going to Sao Paulo to raise the white flag." MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Brazil beat Croatia 1-0 with a goal from Kaka in their only previous World Cup meeting during the 2006 group stage in Berlin. The two sides drew 1-1 in Split in August 2005 in their only other encounter. Brazil Brazil have won their last nine matches, scoring 30 goals and conceding only two. Their only defeat in the last 21 games came against Switzerland last August (W16, D4, L1). They are unbeaten in 37 matches in Brazil since a home defeat by Paraguay in 2002. Brazil are taking part in their 20th World Cup. They are the only team to have taken part in every single tournament. They have won the most games (67) and scored the most goals (210) at the World Cup. Only six members of the current 23-man squad have World Cup experience. Neymar has scored 22 goals in his last 28 international appearances. Croatia They are unbeaten in the five matches since Niko Kovac took charge last October, winning three games and drawing two. Croatia lost three matches for the first time in a qualifying campaign during the World Cup preliminary stage. They have gone four World Cup matches without a win and only scored in one of those fixtures (a 2-2 draw with Australia in 2006). Croatia's last nine World Cup games have produced six red cards.
What do you say? Keep them nice and simple with a match thread per day involving all matches that day? Except for England who Get their own. Or do you want a thread for every match?
Whatever you want marra, dont put yourself out, will take some graft during the group stages mind, owts much appreciated as far as i'm concerned mate
Me too just want that first ball kicked and we are off! Sitting here in my brazil world cup t-shirt and that
It's just copy and paste from the BBC, no special effort, takes seconds to post. Can't stand a disorganised forum though Ok, Just after midnight i'll wack the next day on, Each days 3 or 4 matches all on one thread? Day threads are easiest for me Indy as I can get a match thread up without having to think
