But honestly, I expect it to be a hard, boring and tedious game, where nobody wants to lose since that might already be enough for a ticket home.
Expect a draw, maybe even a goalless draw, and a couple of yellow cards.
Our predictions: Spain 0 - Netherlands 0
And you? Who do you see triumphant?
Both teams have a reasonable defense but not a very good offense.
Key player for Mexico will probably be Giovani Dos Santos and Cameroon's hopes lie with Samuel Eto'o.
Our predictions: Mexico 0 - Cameroon 0
But what do you think?
Our prediction: Brazil 2 - Croatia 1
Both teams are in Group A (together with Mexico and Cameroon). And to be honest, nobody expects Brazil to fail at the first hurdle.
Let's have a closer look at the different teams:
- Brazil are clearly favourites to top this team. They have the reputation, the experience, the bookmaker's backing, the home crowd and practically history behind them.
They also have a very large selection, some healthy competition for certain places and they are extremely gifted in the technical department.
The only worries are in goal and the central attacking position.
Player to watch: Neymar
- Croatia are probably going to finish second in Group A, which should see them through to the next round. They don't have any big star players anymore (like in the past with Davor Suker) but they have the experience of previous World and European Cups. Only downside might be the inexperience of the current trainer, Niko Kovac.
Player to watch: Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic, Ivan Rakitic
- Mexico have a a rough time qualifying, needing a whopping 47 different players to secure their place in Group A.
They have a solid defense (playing with 5 people in the back) but their striking abilities are relatively limited.
Because of the lack of a clearly-defined team, there might be problems with cooperation between the players on the field. They only have one week to solve that.
Player to watch: Oribe Peralta and Javier Hernandez.
- Cameroon: forget the team that played so well in the last century (1990), this Cameroon is only a shadow of its former self. There is no Roger Milla anymore.
They do have a good defense and an excellent goalkeeper (Charles Itandje) but they have trouble scoring.
And to be honest, they miss creativity in midfield.
Player to watch: Chelsea's Samuel Oto'o
Our prediction:
1. Brazil
2. Kroatia
3. Mexico
4. Cameroon
What do you think?
Here is a small selection of our favourite dishes:
- Tomate-crevette (a hollowed-out tomato stuffed with a mixture of grey shrimps and mayonnaise)
- Mussels with onions and celery
- Waterzooi: stew of chicken, cream and eggs
- Endives (often a gratin with béchamel sauces and cheese). Also sometimes wrapped in ham
- Rabbit in beer (mostly gueuze)
- Eel in a green sauce
- Carbonade à la Flamande: a beef stew often in beer
On June 12, 2014, Brazil will host the FIFA 2014 World Cup.
We have an English-language edition here of a luxury edition of Sir Alex Ferguson's second autobiography, aptly titled "My Autobiography".
If you want to win this book (shipment only inside Europe I'm afraid) you can participate in our BeTraveller Competition.
How to participate?
1. Write here below in the comments your name
2. Click on our BeTraveller Competition Link here
3. Fill in the 9 competition questions by guessing the results of 9 FIFA games, and put your name and e-mail address in the tenth question box
The person who scores the most points, will win this book. In case of an tie, a random winner will be chosen among those with the highest score.
How are the points calculated?
If you guess who wins/draws the game, you get 5 points
If you guess the correct number of goals the home team scores, you get 2 points.
If you guess the correct number of goals the away team scores, you get 2 points.
per game you can therefore get a maximum of 9 points.
Example: The game Brazil - Croatia ends on a 3-1 score, and you predicted 2-1
- you will get 5 points because you guessed that Brazil would win
- you will get 2 points because you guessed that Croatia would score one goal
If you have any questions, please post them here below
Rules: - only one entry per person (multiple entries will disqualify the participant
- everybody can participate, but the prize will only be shipped to a European address
Brazil is known for its samba football, and Croatia will probably put a solid defense and a more kick & rush approach to counter that.
The other teams in Group A are Cameroon and Mexico, and analysts assume Brazil and Croatia should progress to the second round. A good result from either team in today's match should make that happen, as would probably a draw.
My prediction: Brazil 2 - Croatia 1
What do you think?
