Updated 09:32 PM EDT, Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Brazil vs. Croatia 2014 - Watch Free Live Stream, TV Schedule & Start Time: World Cup Opening Match Prediction

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The citizens of Brazil need a forceful win in the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match vs. Croatia. The country has been ripped with turmoil and chaos caused by the stress and tax dollars of hosting a FIFA World Cup and the openner scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on June 12 may just be the antidote to calm tensions.

Brazil vs. Croatia - TV Schedule & Free Live Stream

Brazil will face off against their Group A European counterpart, Croatia. Needless to say Brazil is heavily favored with their striking ability and strength on the bench. Neymar is fresh off of his iconic Beats by Dre commercial, and the world will be fastened to their TV sets hoping he'll put on a show. Free live online streaming for all games can be found at WatchESPN or WatchABC. Coverage of the World Cup opener kicks off at 1 p.m. (PT) on the ESPN Networks 

If home field advantage plays any sort of a role, Brazil should have the upper hand. A stadium full of screaming fans will make it difficult, if not impossible, to hear commands from managers on the sidelines. Croatia can counter the crowd noise by scoring first and scoring early. This could be essential for a Croatia victory.

Croatia plays a European style of soccer, which is strongly team oriented as well as physical. Their 'Achilles heal' however is a weak defense that may not be able to hold back the firepower of Brazil. If they are able to get stops, then a counterattack game could work well. After all their star midfielder Ivan Rakitic will be playing for Barcelona next season.

If history says anything about Croatia, they don't have a shot. In 2010 they failed to qualify for the World Cup, and in 2002 and 2006 they were ousted in the Group Stage.

The '12th Man' as referred to earlier, will have a healthy dose of adrenaline and alcohol, which could lead to some rather rowdy shenanigans. Brazil banned alcoholic beverages from soccer matches after death tolls began to rise in previous years. Americans have no idea what it means when other countries say that soccer is their religion.

In the 2014 World Cup, FIFA demanded that Brazil make a special amendment to their alcohol ban so that one of their sponsors, Budweiser, would be able to sell beer.

Prediction

The backbreaking moves that the Brazilian government continues to make at the command of FIFA is an issue that should be questioned by citizens. However, sports can have a unifying effect on a nation. When Brazil defeats Croatia 3-0 in the World Cup opener hopefully the nation will be able to ban together under their national team.

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