World Cup 2014: Your guide to Group A - Brazil; Croatia; Mexico; Cameroon
The lowdown on the teams in Group A
Fixtures (times BST):
June 12 Sao Paulo, 2100: Brazil v Croatia
June 13 Natal, 1700: Mexico v Cameroon
June 17 Fortaleza, 2000: Brazil v Mexico
June 18 Manaus, 2000: Cameroon v Croatia
June 23 Brasilia, 2100: Cameroon v Brazil
June 23 Recife, 2100: Croatia v Mexico
Brazil
How they qualified
Hosts
Key player
Oscar (Chelsea) The preferred playmaker under Jose Mourinho, Oscar will be crucial in making the Brazil attack click.
Dangerman
Neymar (Barcelona) Full of Brazilian flair and creativity, the Barcelona starlet will be in his element at the World Cup.
World Cup best
Five-times winners, most recently in Korea in 2002.
Premier League interest
Plenty – David Luiz, Lucas Leiva, Oscar, Ramires, Paulinho. QPR’s Julo Cesar could well feature too.
Most expensive
Neymar - £50m from Santos to Barcelona, 2013.
WORLD CUP 2014 INTERACTIVE GUIDE: The groups, fixtures, route to the final, venues and past winners
Croatia
How they qualified
Beat Iceland in play-off
Key player
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) The playmaker will be Croatia’s biggest attacking threat at Brazil next year. The Madrid midfielder has been a key figure for both Croatia and Real Madrid this year.
Dangerman
Mario Mandzukic (Bayern Munich) The Champions League winner was joint top scorer at Euro 2012 and will be looking to continue this form into Brazil next year.
World Cup best
Third place (1998)
Premier League interest
Nikica Jelavic of Everton and Dejan Lovren of Southampton.
Most expensive
Luka Modric from Tottenham to Real Madrid for a fee in the region of £33 million, 2012.
Mexico
How they qualified
Beat New Zealand in play off
Key player
Giovani dos Santos (Villarreal) The former Mallorca midfielder has scored 6 goals in 13 appearances for Villarreal since his transfer from Mallorca in the summer of 2013.
Dangerman
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United) The striker has scored 35 goals in 57 appearances for Mexico.
World Cup best
Quarter Finals (1970, 1986)
Premier League interest
Hernandez.
Most expensive
Nery Castillo, from Olympiacos to Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee in the region on £15 million, 2007.
Cameroon
How they qualified
CAF Third Round Winners
World Cup best
Quarter-finals (1990)
Key player
Jean Makoun (Rennes) The solid Rennes midfielder will bring a wealth of experience to the World Cup with his 55 appearances for his country so far.
Dangerman
Samuel Eto’o (Chelsea) Despite a few years away in Russia, the talent of Eto’o cannot be underestimated. On form, the Cameroon striker can be one of the most clinical strikers in the game.
Premier League interest
Eto’o, and Norwich City’s Sebastien Bassong.
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