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Cape Town - Sport24's Wade Pretorius previews Group A at the 2014 Soccer World Cup and suggests a free ride for Brazil into the round of 16.
Hosts Brazil will be looking to seal top spot in Group A and most soccer fans will be expecting just that.
Cameroon are bound to face a difficult time in this tricky group which includes Croatia and Mexico.
I expect Brazil to come through the group phase with the maximum 9 points and Croatia to pip Mexico and Cameroon for the second spot.
FIFA rankings:
Brazil: 3rd
Mexico: 19th
Croatia: 20th
Cameroon: 50th
Players to watch:
Stephane Mbia (Cameroon), Oscar, Neymar (both Brazil), Luka Modric, Mario Mandzukic (both Croatia) and Javier Hernandez (Mexico).
Two to go through:
Brazil, Croatia
Team to create a stir:
Cameroon will be hoping to cause a few upsets in this group and will no doubt be targeting victories over Mexico and Croatia in order to proceed to the Round of 16. They have the players capable of causing such upsets; Samuel Eto’o, Stephane Mbia and Jean Makoun all have the talent and experience to lead Cameroon into the knockout rounds of the competition.
Match not to be missed:
Brazil v Croatia – The opening game of the 2014 Soccer World Cup promises to be a thriller. Croatia will be hoping to rely on memories of a third place finish at the 1998 edition to spur them to an upset victory over Brazil. However, Brazil look a different side under Luiz Felipe Scolari under I am backing them to not only win this group but to challenge for the title of 2014 SWC champions.
Don’t forget to join our Superbru pool for the 2014 SWC and test yourself against the Sport24 team.
Disagree? Have your say in the comments section on you think will be progressing from Group A.
Follow Sport24's Wade Pretorius on twitter: @wadepretorius
