Croatia’s Opening Match

March 23rd, 2006 | By: Soze | 5 Comments »

The following is an article that was published in a Croatian sports newspaper. I have loosely translated it. I think it shows the importance Croatia is placing on this game when we are already trying to find different ways of making through it.

Last time Brazil lost a WC opening game was 72 years ago
The 13th of June, 2006 will long be remembered in the lore of the Croatian Representation. To open their World Cup campaign dancing with Brazillans falls into legendary stories. Because, to put it simply, they are the best..the world bows to them; their personal charm and artistry with the ball makes them the idols of the soccer world. And now, the question of all questions - can we keep up?

Relaxed Cariocas
Through differing opinions which balance everything from total optimism (we beat the Argentinians, Brazil is next) to complete pessimism (not even God can help us) many will, unfortunately, place Croatias chances in the perceived laid back attitudes of the Cariocas at the beginning of these great games. This is a wrong perception.

Even though mere statistics cannot help either team, raw numbers can suggest an outcome. Brazil did, after all, loose their last WC opening game 72 years ago. It was 1934 in Italy, where the Spanish threw the sword (3:1), and only once more, at the first WC1930 did they loose to Yogoslavia (2:1).

Since 1934, in every first game Brazil has played, they have ‘terrorized’ their opponents through years of journalists statements about their ’shaky’ start. At the last four WC’s in the starting 90 minutes, they have scored a minimum of 2 goals…If we are to look for hidden ways to victory, we are going to need alot more than hope that the five time champions will not be in the mood that day.
But, anything’s possible…..

Does Cico have an Ace
Brazil rarely (read never) loose their opening match, so betting on the ‘bad start’ card is a loosing proposition. Even though many optimists believe differently, Cico and company will have to pull more than just aces out of their sleeves.

Maybe our Brazilian can figure something out. Da Silva for President if we win!

Tags: Brazil, Croatia, Opening Round Games

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Comments

By Pedro P | March 25th, 2006 at 11:28 pm

Hey Soze… Rules can be broken. I’ll tell you this. The time is 2000, in Holland and Belgium, THE EUROCUP. Portugal is in England’s and Germany’s group. Nice, ha…? England is England but also chronically anxious to go and win. Germany was said to be not at their best. But Germany is Germany, right…?

So, after 20-30 mins, POR is 2 goals down against ENG… Not only one of the team’s downside was clinical and cold goal scoring, the other was never recuvering when in loosing. Again, the pressure issue…

The game ended 3-2 for Portugal. We also beat Germany 3-0. :-)We weren’t lucky. Ask Seeman and Kahn. After the ENG match I was almost crying, after the GER match I was laughing my head off…

By Luis Paulo | March 26th, 2006 at 6:23 pm

72 years. Damn, that’s a lot. However, we Brazilian, believe that we never show our best on the first game. We had many trouble with Turkey and Scotland in 98 and 02. We also draw several starting games in the past. I don’t see Brazil loosing to Croatia but I really believe that their last game score could repeat. 1-1.

By Soze | March 28th, 2006 at 4:17 pm

If both teams play in this opening match like they did in that friendly, the score is more likely to be 3:1 or 4:1. I don’t know if you saw the game, but Brazil was doing everything possible not to score. I mean, they were right in front of the open net and the shot would go wide. This happened 2 or 3 times. I guess they did not want to bite the hand that feeds them. The Croatia Soccer Federation payed 1 million Euros to Brazil to show up and play. All of the love of the sport huh?

By Euler | March 29th, 2006 at 5:49 am

The first game is very difficult because everybody is nervous and afraid to disapoint their nations.

I don’t believe in the “bite the hand” theory. If you pay the tubes for Brazil to play at your territory I would expect a great show of football and a strong opponent, right?

By Soze | March 29th, 2006 at 11:35 am

Yeah, you would expect this, but it did not happen that day. So if Croatia is to win, or tie this first game, a better team has to show up to the pitch than that day in Split.

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