Brazil: The Brazil national football team have taken part in every edition of the FIFA World Cup and are currently the record holders of the coveted trophy. Having lifted the trophy on five occasions, the Selecao are currently nursing a hangover. The hangover being the Maracanazo which translates to “the Maracana blow”, as Brazil lost the final to Uruguay the last time they hosted the FIFA World Cup in their back yard (at the Estadio de Maracana) in 1950. Anything lesser than the trophy this time will be deemed another national tragedy.
Mexico: Having failed to go beyond the Round of 16 in all of their past five attempts in the World Cup, Mexico are raging to impress. The fans are aching to support the El Tri for a longer while in the tournament and will be looking forward to even improving their record of only reaching the quarter-final.
Head-to-Head
Total Matches Played: 38
Brazil 22 Wins, Mexico 10 Wins, 6 Draws
MATCH LINE-UPS
Brazil
Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva (capt), David Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho, Luiz Gustavo; Ramires, Oscar, Neymar; Fred
Mexico
Guillermo Ochoa; Francisco Rodríguez, Rafael Marquez (capt), Hector Moreno; Paul Aguilar, Hector Herrera, Jose Vazquez, Andres Guardado, Miguel Layun; Giovani dos Santos, Oribe Peralta