Be wary, kicks of the dying horse really hurt

The game of our lives. Just another fixture. The dead rubber game. These are the three kinds of fixtures today. To turn the chills into thrills is the timing. Group B will be facing off three hours before Group A sides take to the pitch. It is same time kick-off for each group in this final round of the group games. This means that the Netherlands and Chile won’t know who of Brazil, Mexico or Croatia is topping Group A. So the mathematics of playing to avoid a certain team in the knock-out round of 16 is out of the equation. Both Netherlands and Chile already booked their place but will be playing to determine who tops the group and face Group A runner-up. This would be just another fixture, but the timing makes it the icing on the cake. Netherlands is fancied to come out on top. They will beat Chile. When Brazil take on Cameroon, it is the game of a life. It will be embarrassing for a team of Brazil’s might to fall in the group stages on home soil. They have failed to impress and this is their opportunity to flog a dead horse and cheer up the fans. But they say the kicks of a dying horse hurt. Do not expect Cameroon to just turn their butts to be flogged; they will take the game to Le Selecao. Ninety-nine per cent out there believe Brazil will wallop Cameroon. For the first time, I am thrusting my head in the jaws of a crocodile. My money is on the biggest shock in World Cup history. After Senegal in 2002, it is time another African team did it. As Brazil fights for its life, Croatia and Mexico will be battling for a place in the last 16. But the teams will be aware of what will be happening between Brazil and Cameroon. This means in the event that Cameroon is pulling out the shocker, Croatia and Mexico could play to eliminate Brazil. Croatia win. However, it is a dead rubber game for Spain Vs. Australia. Fifa chief Sepp Blatter is wary of match fixing in such meaningless fixtures. Spain will reshuffle their squad. But can they win? They are fated against and will draw at best.

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Be wary, kicks of the dying horse really hurt