Sports

World Cup Group A preview: Can anyone slow Brazil?

Five stars adorn the jerseys worn by Brazil, one for each of the soccer-mad nation’s World Cup crowns. Beginning June 12, when they kick off this spectacular monthlong sports festival on home turf in Sao Paolo, the Brazilians will be looking to turn those shirts into artifacts by adding a sixth star to the constellation.

Brazil, with a super-talented squad led by household-name-in-waiting Neymar and a coach with title-winning experience, is installed as the tournament favorite, and anything less than a trophy will be viewed as a disappointment at home.

The coast looks clear in Group A, where the gala opener against defensive-minded Croatia likely will provide Brazil’s sternest test. Win that, and it’s likely on to a tricky Round of 16 match with the second-place team from a loaded Group B.

Croatia and Mexico are expected to duke it out for the second berth in the knockout stage. Mexico may have the higher upside, but was a team in shambles as recently as eight months ago, needing a gift from the archrival US to even make it out of regional qualifying. Cameroon is a long shot, but too balanced to be dismissed altogether.

Brazil

Neymar wears the illustrious No. 10 for BrazilAP

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Odds*: 3-1

FIFA rank: 4

Formation: 4-3-2-1

World Cup finishes: Five-time champions, most recently with a Ronaldo-led, Scolari-coached squad in 2002. Eliminated in the quarterfinals in its last two appearances; lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in the final eight in 2010.

Player to watch: Neymar. It begins and ends with the 22-year-old “next big thing” of global soccer, a prodigiously talented winger who wears the No. 10 jersey that once belonged to Pele. Neymar, who owns 30 goals in 47 national team appearances, is fresh off a busy first season in the European club mix with Barcelona, so fatigue may be a factor. The eyes — and pressure — of the host nation are upon him.

Overview: Brazil is banking on the back line led by captain Thiago Silva being sturdy enough in front of goalkeeper Julio Cesar (currently playing in MLS), because once this team gets out on the counter-attack, watch out. Neymar is a GIF waiting to happen in the open field, working in concert with Oscar, the phenomenonally named Hulk and the simplistically named Fred. The home field advantage will help — six of 19 hosts have prevailed — but should not be overstated. Round of 16 bracket-buster potentially looms with Spain or the Netherlands.

Schedule: June 12 vs. Croatia (Sao Paolo); June 17 vs. Mexico (Fortaleza); June 23 vs. Cameroom (Brasilia)

Croatia

Luka Modric is the midfield linchpin for Croatia.AP

Coach: Niko Kovac

Odds: 150-1

FIFA rank: 20

Formation: 4-3-2-1

World Cup finishes: Finished third in 1998 in debut as an independent nation, bounced in group stage in 2002 and 2006, spiraled out by failing to qualify in 2010. Eked out 2014 bid in playoff with Iceland.

Players to watch: Midfielder Luka Modric makes this team run. Was the best player on a star-studded field for Real Madrid in the Champions League final, ripping off tackles and initializing the offense. Keep an eye on midfield partner Ivan Rakitic, a sure-footed passer with attacking flair.

Overview: The guys in the red-and-white checkered unis can play some lockdown D — Croatia allowed just nine goals in 12 UEFA qualifying matches — but may struggle to ripple the net. Striker Mario Mandzukic is suspended for the pivotal opener against Brazil; a bad result will put the Croats behind in the expected battle with Mexico for the second berth in the knockout stage.

Schedule: June 12 vs. Brazil (Sao Paolo); June 18 vs. Cameroon (Manaus); June 23 vs. Mexico (Recife)

Mexico

Mexico needs forward Javier Hernandez to break out of his slump.AP

Coach: Miguel Herrera (the team’s fourth coach in 10 months)

Odds: 150-1

FIFA rank: 19

Formation: 5-3-2

World Cup finishes: Bowed out in the Round of 16 in the past five tournaments, eliminated by the US in 2002 and Argentina the last two trips. Best historical finish is the quarterfinals (1970, 1986).

Players to watch: Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez is the team’s most recognizable talent, but the 26-year-old forward is coming off a desultory season at Manchester United and his lineup spot is not guaranteed. If Chicharito (“little pea”) is in form, he gives a bruising El Tri squad a dynamic scorer; if not, veteran Oribe Peralta can be slotted as lead forward.

Overview: Undefeated in its past eight, including cruising through a qualifying home-and-home with New Zealand, 9-3, on aggregate and drawing with the US, 2-2, in an April not-so-friendly. Captain (and ex-Red Bull) Rafa Marquez, playing deep in the defensive midfield, embodies the no-holds-barred physical style upon which Mexico relies. Losing midfielder Luis Montes to a gruesome broken leg came at the worst time.

Schedule: June 13 vs. Cameroon (Natal); June 17 vs. Brazil (Fortaleza); June 23 vs. Croatia (Recife)

Cameroon

Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o also played in the 1998 World Cup.AFP/Getty Images

Coach: Volker Finke (a native of Germany)

Odds: 1,000-1

FIFA rank: 50

Formation: 4-3-1-2

World Cup finishes: Lost all three of its group-stage games in 2010 after failing to qualify in 2006. Best finish was a run to the quarterfinals in 1990.

Players to watch: Samuel Eto’o, the Chelsea striker, is in line to play in his fourth World Cup after appearing at the 1998 tournament at the age of 17. The prolific goal-scorer’s role with the national team has been reduced at the age of 33, and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song has become Cameroon’s most indispensable player.

Overview: The strength of this Cameroon squad — sweet nickname: the Indomitable Lions — lies in the midfield with Song, Eyong Enoh and Stephane Mbia. They will look to get into grind-it-out contests and squeeze some late magic out of Eto’o.

Schedule: June 13 vs. Mexico (Natal); June 18 vs. Croatia (Manaus); June 23 vs. Brazil (Brasilia)

*Odds courtesy Ladbrokes