Brazil is desperate to make a
powerful statement of intent in today’s World Cup opener against Croatia as
they seek to relieve the suffocating pressure that has engulfed the team in the
build-up to the tournament.
Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the
luxury of being able to field the same team that destroyed world champions,
Spain 3-0 in the final of last year’s Confederations Cup, with Barcelona star
Neymar the focal point of a powerful and settled line-up.
The five-time champions are expected
to qualify from their group without too much trouble but Barcelona defender
Dani Alves admitted there was anxiety ahead of the Sao Paulo opener, as they
seek to ease the jitters.
“I have always said that if you
don’t feel anxiety
it is not worth being a professional athlete. The opening game is difficult, important,” said Alves.
it is not worth being a professional athlete. The opening game is difficult, important,” said Alves.
But Scolari, who masterminded
Brazil’s last World Cup win in 2002, is likely to stick with his
tried-and-tested winning formula against 18th-ranked Croatia after the same 11
edged past Serbia 1-0 in a friendly last week, courtesy of a goal from Fred.
Croatia will be missing Bayern
Munich’s striker, Mario Mandzukic because of a red card he picked up in a match
against Iceland in November.
But they also boast of Real Madrid’s
Luka Modric in their line-up, who said the key to the game would be the
midfield battle, admitting the task of taking on Brazil in their own backyard
was daunting.
“Virtually every game is decided in
the midfield. In most situations, the winner is the team that has the better
midfield,” said Modric. “I hope that we can show our qualities and can beat
Brazil. But this will of course be very difficult.”
Modric, fresh from winning the
Champions League with Real Madrid, highlighted the danger of Neymar, hailed by
many as the key man for Brazil.
“Neymar did not have the best of
season with Barcelona, but when he plays for Brazil, he is a completely
different player,” said Modric. “But I believe that we will find a way to stop
him.”
The match will be played in the
61,600-capacity Corinthians Arena, which was delayed by accidents in which
three workers were killed.
Opening ceremony spectacle (Time
7.15 p.m)
More than 600 dancers reportedly
started rehearsing a month ago to put on a show that the world will surely be
amazed at.
“The Opening Ceremony is a tribute
to Brazil and its treasures: Nature, people football,” said Daphne Cornez, the
show’s Belgian artistic director.
“The sense of excitement here is
amazing and everyone is very motivated. It doesn’t matter whether they’re
feeling tired or hot sometimes, or if they have to go through routines again
and again; they just keep on smiling. It’s amazing.”
One of the performers, a 60-year-old
female dancer, Edna Sasson, who will be representing a river could barely
contain her excitement. “It’s a unique event,” said Sasson. “It’s not like
dancing at the local theatre or any other theatre for that matter”.
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