Brazil v Croatia Betting Tips and Predictions: World Cup 2014

Brazil v Croatia predictions and betting tips for Thursday’s World Cup opening match and a match preview with expert football tips.

Ladies and gentlemen: E tempo para a Cupa Do Mundo (or "It's time for the World Cup" to you and me)!

We've been speculating and waiting and speculating some more, but finally now the biggest of sporting spectacles has arrived, taking place in perhaps the game's most passionate home.

They go into the first game as 3/10 favourites to win against Croatia with William Hill, while Croatia can be backed for the win at best odds of 11/1 with Bet Victor. The best odds on a draw are 9/2 with Betfair.

Bet £10 on Brazil v Croatia and win or lose get two free £10 bets added to your account at William Hill.

And what a cracker we have to begin it all – hosts Brazil taking on Croatia in São Paulo on Thursday 12^th June, kick-off time 9.00pm. With their home advantage, their international pedigree and the array of talent in their current crop of players, which includes the likes of Hulk and Neymar, Brazil are much fancied to lift the trophy in the latest World Cup betting odds.

Despite a distinguished CV, which includes guiding Brazil to a World Cup triumph in Japan in 2002 during his first stint as national boss, Brazil coach Luis Filipe Scolari is unlikely to have felt before the kind of pressure he is set to come under for the duration of Brazil's involvement in the tournament, with the fervent Brazilian public expecting their side to go all the way to the final.

His team came through last years' trial run, the Confederations Cup, as champions and will be aware that they need a strong start to their World Cup to unite the nation, which has up until now been divided over the decision to host the tournament, behind them. Brazil's attackers will no doubt be chomping at the bit to start the opening game and the chance to claim the glory of being the tournament's first goalscorer and it is in the first goalscorer market that we look to for our first Brazil v Croatia betting tip for this game.

A number of names would appear worthy contenders for first goalscorer, but we are going for Fred, who plies his trade for Fluminense in the Brazilian league and top-scored with five goals in the Confederations Cup, to be the first to find the net. So for our first Brazil v Croatia betting tip back Fred as the first goalscorer at best odds of 4/1 with Ladbrokes.

Open a new Coral account and bet £10 on Brazil to wear yellow for this match, it's a guaranteed £20 of free cash for you. 

Croatia have undoubted talent in their ranks and will not be an easy opening assignment for Brazil, who have the pressure of their immensely passionate supporters to contend with. The Croatian side has the mercurial Luka Modric pulling the strings in the centre of midfield, but will be without star-striker Mario Mandzukic as he is suspended. They could be found lacking a little upfront as a result, but we still fancy them to knick a goal and like a bet on veteran frontman Ivica Olic to score it. So for our second Brazil v Croatia prediction back Olic as an anytime goalscorer at 7/1 with Paddy Power.

We think Brazil should have enough to overcome the early nerves and edge this one, though, and we like a bet on a draw at half-time with Brazil going on to win the game. So for our final football betting tip back a draw at half-time, Brazil at full-time at best odds of 10/3 with Bet Victor.

Brazil v Croatia Betting Tips

Fred as first goalscorer – bet here at 4/1 (Ladbrokes): new accounts get £100 free bet.

Olic for an anytime goalscorer – bet here at 7/1 (Paddy Power): new accounts bet £10 get £20 free.

Draw at HT/Brazil at FT – bet here at 10/3 (Bet Victor): new accounts get £25 free.

World Cup price boosts: This is the last chance to bet on one of the Paddy Power price boosts for the outright World Cup winner. Use the steps below to get either 8/1 for Brazil, 12/1 for Argentina, 14/1 for Germany or 16/1 for Spain to win the World Cup.

To get one of the price boosts:

1.       Click this link straight to Paddy Power

2.       Open a new account for free

3.       Bet £10 on any of the four price boosts

Bet on our Brazil v Croatia betting predictions at Paddy Power.

GET ANY OF THE FOUR PRICE BOOSTS USING THIS LINK

Brazil v Croatia Offers:

New Betfair accounts 3/1 Brazil to win – get it here.

New Winner accounts get 5/2 Brazil to win – get it here. 

Get losing first scorer bets refunded if your player scores 2nd – get it here.

4/1 for Neymar to score anytime – get it here.