Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Brazil play Mexico in their second World Cup match on Tuesday knowing that a win would virtually secure a place in the last 16.

Victory in the Group A game in Fortaleza would also be revenge for losing 2-1 to the Mexicans in the London Olympics final in 2012.

Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the World Cup’s opening match, with two goals from Neymar, but a bitterly disputed penalty took the gloss off the win. Coach Scolari will be looking for a more convincing performance by the tournament favourites.

If Brazil win and Wednesday’s Cameroon-Croatia game ends in a draw or a win for Croatia then the hosts are guaranteed a place in the second round.

Mexico beat Cameroon 1-0 in their first game which also saw refereeing controversy. Two goals by Giovani dos Santos, son of a Brazilian emigre, were disallowed by the referee.

Brazil and Mexico have a history in Fortaleza. When they met in the Confederations Cup there on year ago, the national anthem halted after 90 seconds and Brazilian fans carried on singing an acapella version that captain Thiago Silva said inspired them to a 2-0 victory.

The style has since been repeated at all Brazil games and by other South American nations. “If they sing like that this time, we will know the fans are with us,” said Thiago Silva.