World Cup Talk: Opening Ceremonies And Brazil v. Croatia

The World Cup is finally, finally, upon us. As we speak, the colorful opening ceremonies are beginning, but we all know what you're here for: the biggest tilt in Group A, Brazil taking on Croatia in Sao Paulo.

There's not much Napoli involvement for this one; Henrique Buss is the only Napoli player involved, and his involvement will likely be limited to watching from the bench. He's Felipe Scolari's utility defender, and as such he'll most likely be used as a sub later in matches more often than starting.

Still, this should be a scintillating match to watch. The Brazilian side is always exciting to watch, and adding in the extra element of hosting the tournament should only up the ante for them. The flash of the likes of Neymar, Oscar, Willian, and Hulk combined with the steel of Fernandinho, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, and Paulinho makes Brazil a tough opponent to face.

While few are counting Croatia among the favorites, they won't be easy pickings either. They have one of the best midfield trios in the World Cup, with Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic, and Mateo Kovacic capable of passing circles around anyone who tries to face them down. While the rest of their squad is frequently derided as average, you can do a whole lot worse than having the likes of Mario Madzukic, Ivan Perisic, Nikica Jelavic, Dario Srna, and Vedran Corluka in your lineup.

The match will start shortly, and live viewing options can be found here (links to illegal streams in the comments will be removed and repeat offenders banned), and as always, you can also follow along with us live on Twitter. If you haven't already, join the community on the Siren’s Song, and join in the discussion below!