Preview: World Cup hosts Brazil out to banish 1950 memories

Brazil will be keen to avoid a repeat of the 1950 unpleasant memories when they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia at the Corinthians arena on Thursday

Five-time winners Brazil always play for the World Cup title but they have an extra incentive this time around: their fans cannot afford a repeat of 1950 when they lost to Uruguay in the final at their own Maracana Stadium.
The Selecao begin their 2014 campaign against Croatia on home soil, seeking to win their first title since 2002.
Their form under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been impressive, having won 15 of their last 16 games in a superb run that also included a Confederations Cup triumph at the expense of Spain last year.
Brazil are overwhelming favourites to kick off their campaign with a win over Croatia, emboldened by the fact that no host nation have ever lost their opening World Cup game.
''I wouldn't accept to coach Brazil if I didn't think I could win the World Cup,” Scolari said last month.
“I took the job because I'm 100 percent sure that I will win the World Cup with Brazil.”
Scolari was at Brazil's helm when they won the last of their record five World Cup titles in South Korea and Japan 12 years ago, leading a side that boasted the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos.
The current Brazil roster hardly includes players of the same caliber but some promising up-and-coming forwards such as Neymar and Oscar as well as rock-solid defenders such as Thiago Silva could do the job.
“This team is much younger team, it lacks the experience of that 2002 squad. This group has a different dynamic and this type of dynamic is needed in football today.”
Neymar will shoulder a huge burden of expectations as only a World Cup triumph will suffice for Brazil's ever-demanding supporters, who will find it hard to swallow if their team fail on home soil for the second time.
The Barcelona man had a disappointing season in Spain though, with the Catalans failing to land any major silverware.
"I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup,” Neymar told a news conference ahead of the Croatia clash.
"We know there will be difficult matches. It's a World Cup so all the games will be decided in little details, so we're preparing ourselves not to make mistakes during the game."
Brazil have no injury worries ahead of the game while Croatia will miss left back Danijel Pranjic through injury. Gordon Schildenfeld is also doubtful for Croatia with a hamstring problem.
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