Brazil look to banish Mexico’s Olympic-thrashing memories

No thoughts about avenging 2012 London Games, says striker Hulk.

FORTALEZA:

Brazil striker Hulk insists revenge is not on the agenda as the World Cup hosts bid to all but secure their place in the last 16 against rivals Mexico on Tuesday.

Mexico shattered Brazil’s dream of winning the only major prize missing from their honours list two years ago, when they stunned the South Americans 2-1 to claim the Olympic gold medal in London.

But Hulk insists there is no question of Brazil looking to settle the score as they face the Mexicans at Fortaleza’s Castelao Stadium.

It is the same venue where they met in the group stage of the Confederations Cup last year when Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side claimed a 2-0 victory.



That success means a measure of revenge has already been exacted, and forward Hulk insisted that Brazil will only have one thing on their minds come kick-off on Tuesday.

“In the Confederations Cup, we tried to think only about winning the game and it will be the same this time,” said the powerful forward, who scored in the Olympic final clash. “If we think about revenge it could cause us problems.”

Nevertheless, the Olympic defeat left its mark on him, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Oscar and Neymar, the five members of Brazil’s 2014 squad who featured at Wembley.

Of Tuesday’s encounter, Oscar, one of the standout performers in Brazil’s opening 3-1 win against Croatia, said, “It will certainly be as difficult as last year. In the World Cup, there is an extra desire to win and I hope we can do so again this time.”

The current Mexico side, featuring eight members of the gold medal-winning 2012 team, also started their Group A campaign in positive fashion, beating Cameroon 1-0 in Natal on Friday.

Belgium’s young guns set to dazzle

Belgium’s vibrant young team are preparing to launch their World Cup campaign against Algeria on Tuesday with competition heating up on the training pitch ahead of the Group H clash.

The richly talented squad is blessed with players such as Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, powerful striker Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany.

Belgium have not appeared at a major international championships since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but they impressed in qualifying and will fancy their chances of matching their semi-final showing in Mexico in 1986.

Despite their impressive playing resources, Belgium will come up against a side looking to cause an upset of their own to go alongside their shock win over eventual finalists West Germany in 1982.

Despite that famous win, Algeria, taking part in their fourth World Cup, have never gone beyond the group stages.

Returning Russia face Korean test

Defender Lee Yong says South Korea are not quaking in their boots at the prospect of taking on a physically more imposing Russia in Cuiaba on Tuesday.

The 2002 semi-finalists face Fabio Capello’s Russia, who failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, as the covers come off Group H under the Arena Pantanal floodlights.

“It’s true the Russian team are quite technical and strong,” said Yong, when he spoke briefly before a closed training session at a university campus.

“Maybe the Russians are physically stronger than Asian sides like us but we are well prepared for this game, we’re focussed,” said Yong, whose job it will be to stop Russian attackers like Alexander Kerzhakov and Alexander Kokorin.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2014.

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