Brazil plays Croatia on Thursday in the 2014 World Cup opener. The match begins at 4:00 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream or listen to the radio broadcast via the links provided below.
The 2014 World Cup opens with Brazil and Croatia. Brazil, the host team, is already considered one of the favorites to advance because of their home advantage.
"To all Brazilians I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup," Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said, via BBC. "There are seven steps. The first step is (on Thursday) against Croatia. After that we have six steps that we want to go up if we want to win the World Cup."
Brazil will need strong performances from star Neymar if they want to achieve each of those seven steps.
"I am anxious of course but also I'm extremely happy being where I am today because many people would like to be here," Neymar said. "I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfill the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup."
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Although Croatia is the underdog against Brazil, boss Niko Kovac believes his squad has a legitimate chance of becoming the first team ever to defeat the host nation in an opening World Cup match.
"It seems they are expected not only to win all their games but also play entertaining football too and that is our chance," Kovac said of Brazil. "The longer we hold our own the more anxious they will get and we want to make it as difficult as possible for them. We certainly won't park the bus in our penalty box, we want to have a real go at them and are confident that we can get a result."
Watch the live stream HERE, HERE and HERE, or listen to the radio broadcast HERE.
Projected Lineups (via SB Nation):
Brazil: Julio Cesar; Marcelo, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Dani Alves; Paulinho, Luiz Gustavo, Neymar, Oscar, Hulk; Fred.
Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Danijel Pranjic, Dejan Lovren, Vedran Corluka, Darijo Srna; Ivan Rakitic, Ognjen Vukojevic, Luka Modric; Ivica Olic, Nikica Jelavic, Ivan Perisic.
