Brazil isn’t really that good. Not compared to past teams, at the very least. Still quite dangerous, and I certainly wouldn’t see them in my part of the draw if I could help it, but not the unbeatable giants they’re made out to be. Undisciplined defense and an offense that goes through a single choke point in Neymar. They’ve got skill, individually, but not a particularly good team.
Okay, most people in the media say Brazil was awarded a non-penalty, so you take that away, it is 1-1; it is 1-1 and Oscar scored his goal, good one at that I understand but he scores it in added extra time when Croatia has to try to fight to draw up a game in the crucial first game. So I think that game could have ended up a draw.
But still, Mexico were denied 2 goals vs. Cameroon, that was shocking too.
Croatia had to play for a victory vs. Mexico while Mexico could settle for a draw and nobody scored until the 72nd minute: http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/06/23/world/world-cup/croatia/mexico/1220075/?ICID=PL_MS_14
All that said, I’m for the host country with a great history in the sport doing well, they may have gotten through the doldrums and might be able to defeat Chile. I think they would have a good chance to defeat Chile, I’d call it about even.
In the end, despite people saying one group is strong or weak, on paper at least, they are probably comparable.
I’d say usually Mexico impresses. They always have the potential to turn it up a notch it appears. 2010 was actually a very good team.
Argentina defeats Mexico in 2010 but without that awarded goal, again, Mexico might have lost some composure but you wonder what could have happened nonetheless.
Of course, a team is awarded a fluke goal, we say the team should have tried to battle back more. I’m not sure the last time a fluke goal happened to the USA though in 2002, we probably were denied a goal or penalty kick on a handball which is probably a common occurence.
In 2010, Roberto Martinez did say Suarez did the right thing in hand-blocking the Ghana goal. I’m undecided on that, he was red carded and sent out and I believe Ghana given a penalty. I don’t know if that is cheating or just part of the rules of the game. It does seem to be outside the spirit of the game though.