please log in to view this image Fortaleza 20:00 BST please log in to view this image Brazil and Mexico begin second round of group games in Fortaleza. Should Brazil or Mexico win Tuesday's World Cup Group A clash in Fortaleza, they would all but qualify for the last 16. Brazil came back from a goal down to beat Croatia 3-1 on the opening night of the tournament, whilst Mexico looked comfortable in a 1-0 victory against Cameroon the following day. If a victor emerges at the Estadio Castelao, they would move onto six points and an unlikely chain of events would be needed for them not to reach the knockout stages. One Brazilian who knows the Mexican side well is Oscar. The 22-year-old midfielder has played against them twice in the last two years, suffering heartbreak in an Olympic final defeat and retribution as a Neymar-inspired Brazil won 2-0 in a Confederations Cup group game 12 months ago. After an impressive performance on Thursday night, the Chelsea man is hoping it will be another win for the World Cup hosts. He said: "Of course, I was very sad (after the Olympic defeat). "It is a medal that Brazil have never won and we lost the final. Mexico are a very good team. It will certainly be as difficult as last year. In the World Cup, there is an extra desire to win and I hope we can do so again this time. "Mexico are a very different side to Croatia. They play the ball out from the back well and are very good on the counter-attack." An injury doubt for Brazil comes in the form of Zenit St Petersburg forward Hulk, who revealed on Sunday he has been suffering from a hamstring injury - despite playing against Croatia on Thursday. He said: "I have felt a pain in my left hamstring. "It has been there for a few days but it did not stop me from playing in the first game and God willing it will not stop me from playing in the next match." Neymar continued his fine form in international colours against Croatia - scoring his 32nd and 33rd goals on his 50th appearance at the age of just 22. Mexico captain Refael Marquez knows the team will have to work hard to contain the Brazilian superstar, but says he and his team-mates have been working hard in training to get things right on the day. He told Brazilian news station Globo: "We have to cover, have two against one, be fast and reduce the spaces on the pitch and not let him play. "Against Brazil, it will surely be a very difficult game. We know the talent of Neymar, Oscar, Hulk but we will train in ways to handle them. "We have to make the most of this opportunity - it is a showcase for all of us. For many of them, it is an opportunity to go up one more level." Opta stats o Brazil and Mexico are meeting for the fourth time at the World Cup. The Seleção have won their three previous meetings with a combined score of 11-0. o Brazil have lost just one of their 34 World Cup matches in the first round/group stages of the World Cup since 1970 (W27 D6) â this came in a 1-2 defeat to Norway in their final group game of 1998 (but they had already qualified for the next stage). o Mexico have only beaten the Seleção once on Brazilian soil. It was on 31 October 1968 in a friendly (2-1). please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
I see both teams are in full cheat mode, at least 5 rolls and crying to the ref after every tackle. So far the ref looks like he's had a joint, he's so laid back.
Bastard! Nines censored my post! I see the diving and play acting has calmed down now that the ref refuses to hand out yellows.
I can't quite work out if they are calling Cesar a rent boy or whore. Can any Spanish speakers confirm?
We'll still get a good dosage of that with Neymar on the pitch. He's the most disgracefully consistent diver I've seen for years; his levels of perfection in the art are scary.
I think young is worse because he doesn't even do it well yet they constantly fall for it, he does a sort of half role every time and flips onto his back. Either way, I'd love to play against them because neither would finish the game.
Green is too light/too dark or home vs. away kit? Not a clue! Do you have a good answer for us Flyer?
Surely the green is the dark and the orange is the light kit? So they're playing light v light tonight. Bonus craziness from FIFA is having the Mexican sub's wear orange bibs on orange shirts!
From the Wall Street Journal:- http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2014/06/17/world-cup-2014-brazil-v-mexico-live/ "Itâs weird seeing Mexico wearing red and the referee wearing green." "To the Mexico fans: How often has Mexico worn these red jerseys? Have they been good luck or bad?" "This is the third time Mexico has worn these red jerseys. The first time was against Nigeria in March, then against Israel in late May. Many fans also wearing the red jerseys today. Thereâs probably a good reason not too many teams choose green on a soccer field." "Mexico wore these red jerseys in 1994" please log in to view this image "Júlio César, Brazilâs goalie, demonstrating some of the tips he picked up at Londonâs Queens Park Rangers â hoofing the ball into the safety of row Z."
Chicharito looks lively since coming on. Mexico look pretty solid, Brazil look like us most of last season, stuck in 1st gear
