World Cup 2014: Brazil x Croatia for the first match
25 May, 2014
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By Marina Bertoncello
Less than one month to go, the countdown for the World Cup 2014 has already started for the football fans. Although there are several political, economic, healthy and educational points presented for the Brazilians against this international event, the kick-off is scheduled for 12th of June. Brazil and Croatia will perform the first tournament at Corinthians Stadium (dubbed ai???ItaquerA?oai???) in SA?o Paulo, where the Brazilians are expected to play with the number 1 official uniform (yellow shirt, blue shorts). Under the supervision of the coach FelipA?o (Luiz Felipe Scolari) the warm up has already started for the ai???canarinhaai??? (Brazilian players). Here is the national squad – Goalkeeper: Julio CAi??sar, Jefferson and Victor; Centre-back: Dante, David Luiz, Henrique and Thiago Silva (captain); Wingback: Daniel Alves, Maicon, Marcelo and Maxwell; Centre Midfield: Fernandinho, Hernanes, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho and Ramires; Attaching midfield: William and Oscar; Forward: Bernard, Fred, Hulk, JA? and Neymar. According to FIFAai??i??s (International Federation of Association Football) website, Neymar, Daniel Alves and the goalkeeper Julio Cesar may be key players on the World Cup 2014.
The World Cup starts with 32 different countries divided in eight groups (A-H), each of them with four teams. Brazil is in Group A, together with Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon. After the match against Croatia, Brazil will play against Mexico in Fortaleza, on the 17th of June and against Cameroon in Brasilia, on the 23rd of June. See the matches schedule below.
1st Time Champion, 1958
In each group, the teams play against each other and the first two of each group qualify for the round of 16. In this knock-out round, only eight teams will advance to the next stage. After which will be the quarter finals, where only four teams go to the semi-final. The final match will be played by the two best football teams of the world in 2014.
They will fight for the most desired champion cup in Rio de Janeiro on the 13rd of July, at the MaracanA? stadium ai??i?? which has capacity for 71.159 seats. The Brazilian team has the record of being the World Cup Champion for five times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002).
It finished in second place twice (1950 and 1998). In 2007, Brazil was confirmed by FIFA to be the host country for the World Cup 2014. Twelve Brazilian cities were chosen to be venues of the matches. The host country committed to build five brand new stadiums, to rebuild one and renovate the others six.
Read more about the host cities here.
You can find more information about the World Cup 2014 on FIFAai??i??s website: www.fifa.com or on: www.copa2014.gov.br.
Click here for match dates & times.
Thursday, 12 June
Brazil x Croatia, 9pm
Friday 13 June
Ai??Mexico x Cameroon, 5pm
Spain x Netherlands, 8pm
Chile x Australia, 10pm
Saturday, 14June
Colombia x Greece, 5pm
Uruguay x Costa Rica, 8pm
England x Italy, 11pm
CA?te Dai??i??Ivoire x Japan, 2am
Sunday, 15June
Switzerland x Ecuador, 5pm
France x Honduras, 8pm
Argentina x Bosnia and Herzegovina 11pm
Monday, 16 June
Germany and Portugal, 1pm
Iran x Nigeria, 8pm
Ghana x USA, 11pm
Tuesday, 17 June
Belgium x Algeria, 1pm
Brazil x Mexico, 8pm
Russia x Korea Republic, 10pm
Wednesday, 18 June
Australia x Netherlands, 5pm
Spain x Chile, 10pm
Cameroon x Croatia, 10pm
Thursday, 19 June
Colombia x CA?te Dai??i??Ivoire, 5pm
Uruguay x England, 8pm
Japan x Greece, 11pm
Friday, 20 June
Italy x Costa Rica, 5pm
Switzerland x France, 8pm
Honduras x Ecuador, 11pm
Saturday 21 June
Argentina x Iran, 5pm
Germany x Ghana, 8pm
Nigeria x Bosnia and Herzegovina, 10pm
Sunday, 22 June
Belgium x Russia, 5pm
Korea Republic x Algeria, 8pm
USA x Portugal, 10pm
Monday, 23 June
Netherlands x Chile, 5pm
Australia x Spain, 5pm
Cameroon x Brazil, 9pm
Croatia x Mexico, 9pm
Tuesday, 24 June
Italy x Uruguay, 5pm
Costa Rica x England, 5pm
Japan x Colombia, 8pm
Greece x CA?te Dai??i??Ivoire, 9pm
Wednesday, 25 June
Nigeria x Argentina, 5pm
Bosnia and Herzegovina x Iran, 5pm
Honduras x Switzerland, 8pm
Ecuador x France, 9pm
Thursday, 26 June
Portugal x Ghana, 5pm
USA x Germany, 5pm
Korea Republic x Belgium, 9pm
Algeria x Russia, 9pm
ROUND OF 16
Saturday, 28 June
Group A winner x Group B 2nd place, 5pm
Group C winner x Group D 2nd place, 9pm
Sunday, 29 June
Group B winner x Group A 2nd place, 5pm
Group D winner x Group C 2nd place, 9pm
Monday, 30 June
Group E winner x Group F 2nd place, 5pm
Group G winner x Group H 2nd place, 9pm
Tuesday, 1 July
Group F winner x Group E 2nd place, 5pm
Group H winner x Group G 2nd place, 9pm
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday, 4 July
Quarter Finalist 5 x Quarter Finalist 6, 5pm
Quarter Finalist 1 x Quarter Finalist 2, 9pm
Saturday, 5 July
Quarter Finalist 7 x Quarter Finalist 8, 5pm
Quarter Finalist 3 x Quarter Finalist 4, 9pm
SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday, 8 July
Winner Quarter Final 1 x Winner Quarter Final 2, 9pm
Wednesday, 9 July
Winner Quarter Final 3 x Winner Quarter Final 4, 9pm
PLAY-OFF FOR THIRD PLACE
Saturday, 12 July
Semi-Final 1 loser x Semi-Final 2 loser,
FINAL
Sunday, 13 July
Semi-final 1 winner x Semi-final 2 winner, 8pm
