Match Focus: Lessons Learned From Brazil's Win Over Croatia

After years of planning, the 2014 World Cup kicked off in dramatic fashion on Thursday night as hosts Brazil overcame Group A rivals Croatia 3-1. A Neymar brace and late Oscar strike was enough for A Seleção to secure three points, after Marcelo had inadvertently turned into his own net to hand Croatia the lead.

The encounter highlighted a number of key issues and we at WhoScored have picked out the main lessons learned from Brazil’s 3-1 win over Croatia.

Oscar, not Neymar, can guide Brazil to glory

Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has known his preferred starting XI for the competition for some time and his team lined up as expected. It was Oscar and Neymar who stole the limelight in Sao Paulo and the pair are tipped to stand out this summer.

While the latter has the expectations of the country weighing on his shoulders, it was the former who won the plaudits in the victory. Oscar garnered just 981 minutes of Premier League action in 2014, but was still at his best when the two teams lined up at Arena de Sao Paulo.

The Chelsea midfielder was the highest-rated player (10.0) against Croatia and his late goal was just reward for an impressive all-round display. He rose to the occasion, providing a penetrative threat for his side, completing more dribbles (7) than any other player.

Furthermore, only Dani Alves, Darijo Srna and Ivica Olic (all 5) made more tackles than Oscar (4) as he displayed his defensive quality, too. Neymar did put in a commendable performance for Brazil as his WhoScored rating (8.79) suggests, netting the equaliser on the half hour mark before scoring the eventual winner from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

Nevertheless, while Neymar impressed, he was outshone by Oscar, who may be the player to guide the hosts to their 6th World Cup.

Scolari needs to re-deploy or drop Hulk

Hulk can change a game in the blink of an eye, but was unable to make an impact in the victory over Croatia. His WhoScored rating (6.22) was the lowest of every Brazil player on Thursday night and supporters welcomed his 68th minute withdrawal.

Only Neymar (4) had more shots than Hulk (2), but the powerful attacker failed to hit the target with either of his efforts. Starting in an unfamiliar role on the left-wing was always going to hinder his impact and his below-par performance perhaps came as a result of being played out of position. He didn't start on the left for Zenit last season in either the Russian Premier League or European competition, while his WhoScored rating on the right-wing (7.92) in the league implies this is the role he is best suited to.

Therefore, it would be wise for Scorlari to use him on the right or drop him for Willian or Bernard to play on the left alongside Neymar and Oscar. There is also the possibility though that the Brazil boss has Hulk spearhead the attack. Against Croatia, Fred was underwhelming, with the frontman having the fewest touches (20) of every Brazil starter.

Hulk may prefer to cut in from the wing to score, but he has proven his quality when operating as the focal point in attack, with 5 of his 17 goals and 1 of his 6 assists in the league coming in that role from 7 starts. The striker has the power and goalscoring ability to lead the line and Scolari should consider using him as the main forward rather than Fred.

Croatia can make a lasting impact in Brazil

Credit where credit's due, Fred won his side the decisive penalty that proved to be the turning point in the fixture. Granted, the call to penalise Dejan Lovren for a foul on the 30-year-old was a controversial one, but Croatia must not dwell on the decision.

Niko Kovac’s side have the quality to make an impact this summer, but a win over Cameroon is a must. In the form of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Mateo Kovacic, Croatia boast one of the finest midfield trios at the World Cup and they must utilise their strengths.

Modric in particular put in a display of the highest order in the middle of the park, continuing his club form that saw him win Copa Del Rey and Champions League winners’ medals last season. The Real Madrid star was Croatia’s highest rated player (7.52) and executed more key passes (4) than every player on Thursday night. Midfield partner Rakitic ended the encounter with an impressive pass success (91%), a figure bettered only by Kovacic (94%) of every Croatian.

Meanwhile, only Oscar (7) and Neymar (6) attempted more crosses than Croatia wingers Ivan Perisic and Ivica Olic (both 5). With Mario Mandzukic set to return to the starting XI at the expense of Nikica Jelavic for the next game, a striker of his calbre should captailise on these balls into the box.

No player scored more headed goals (7) than the Bayern Munich attacker in the Bundesliga last season, while only Robert Lewandowski (20) netted more league goals than Mandzukic (18). His return will be a timely boost for the team and highlights the strength at Kovac's disposal.

Goalkeepers

Dejan Lovren was unlucky to be yellow-carded for his contentious foul on Fred in the latter stages of the defeat, while Vedran Corluka, bar a few moments of madness, was relatively solid. In goal though, question marks linger over Stipe Pletikosa.

The FC Rostov goalkeeper may have been fooled by Neymar’s scuffed effort for the first goal, but he could, and perhaps should, have done better for the attacker's penalty and Oscar’s late strike. Pletikosa got both hands to Neymar’s second goal and though Oscar’s toe-punt perhaps took him by surprise, the shotstopper’s display in between the sticks would not have filled the defence with confidence.

Pletikosa made as many saves (3) as he conceded goals in the 3-1 defeat and he will need to vastly improve if Croatia are to progress in Brazil. Julio César was also guilty of under performing. The 34-year-old made 7 appearances for Toronto FC in MLS this season to boost his match fitness, but was still shaky in the Brazil net in Sao Paulo.

He was gifted a free-kick having misjudged a Sime Vrsaljko cross for Olic which would have led to a Croatia equaliser late on and will come up against greater tests in if Brazil go all the way.

What lessons did you learn from Brazil's 3-1 win over Croatia? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below