Two nations looking to return to form will do battle today in an international friendly between Brazil and Panama. The Brazilian World Cup tune-up scheduled for 3 p.m. ET will be held at Estadio Serra Dourada in Goias and can be live streamed here free. Additional TV coverage can be found on beIN Sports.
The pressures of lifting the World Cup in Brazil only intensify by the day for the Brazilian national team. Given the civil unrest surrounding the tournament, head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has even gone as far to admit it's a responsibility and a duty for his side to do so.
"When Brazil play in the World Cup, people expect them to win it. That's not extra pressure, but that's normal for a Brazilian fan, as well as for a Brazilian footballer. If you realize this, the job will be easier," Scolari said in an interview with the Times of India (via Goal). "I know there are issues [with how the tournament has been organized]. People are not happy. We have a duty to make them happy by winning the cup for them."
When asked specifically about the pressures surrounding his side, Scolari added, "Football in Brazil is a religion, so yes, we shall be under pressure. But I feel this is good for the footballers. They can never forget their target. They can never forget what they are on the field for."
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Tactical Preview
Player to Watch: From a marketing standpoint, the face of Brazilian football remains Barcelona's Neymar. But from a tactical standpoint, it's the team's pointman, Fred, that is ultimately responsible for the productivity and inclusion of his midfield in the attack. The 30-year-old has five appearances in Brazil's first division thus far this season, scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists.
Brazil's Projected Lineup (4-3-3): Cesar; Marcelo, Dante, Luiz, Alves; Ramires, Gustavo, Oscar; Neymar, Fred, Hulk
Panama's Projected Lineup (4-4-1-1): Calderon; Rodriguez, Chen, Morcillo, Parris; Quintero, Gomez, Ledezma, Cooper, Barahona, Tejada
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