( CNN ) -- Brazil 's World Cup has been a carnival of color -- but this was a monochrome affair in Fortaleza . A dour goalless draw against Mexico is unlikely to prevent the host nation from qualifying for the next stage but this game will soon be forgotten . Even with Neymar at the helm , the face of Brazil 's World Cup challenge , it rarely looked like finding a way past a determined and stubborn Mexican side . And when Brazil did managed to create a chance , it found Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in irrepressible form . `` There was a chance here , a chance there , it was very tight , '' Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told reporters . `` It was n't a question of us evolving or not ( from the last game ) . We 've been playing this way for 20 games , we are up against good teams , we need to understand that . `` It was n't a good result , a victory would have qualified us . We need to respect other teams . '' After the thrilling excitement of the last week 's 3-1 win over Croatia , those packed into the stadium in Fortaleza may have expected another action-packed affair . Instead , what transpired was a rather turgid affair as Brazil failed to find the fluency which eventually put Croatia to the sword in Sao Paulo . Mexico , winners in its opening game against Cameroon , showed little sign of being overawed by the occasion and came close to opening the scoring when Hector Herrera 's effort was tipped away by Julio Cesar . It was n't until midway through the first half that Brazil fashioned a real opportunity -- but when it came it needed a wonderful save by Ochoa to keep Mexico level . Dani Alves , sporting his freshly sprayed silver hairstyle , escaped down the right and his cross was headed towards goal by Neymar only for Ochoa to scramble across goal and tip the ball away . With the first half drawing to a close , Brazil once again carved open the Mexican defense . A free kick into the penalty area was chested down by Thiago Silva into the path of David Luiz but his effort was blocked by the onrushing Ochoa . Whatever coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said at the interval appeared to galvanize the host nation for a few minutes at least with substitute Bernard , on in place of Ramires , adding a new found impetus . It was Bernard who created the opening chance of the half , crossing for Neymar at the far post only for the ball to be taken off the forward 's toes by a Mexican defender . But any hopes that Brazil would begin to grow into the contest appeared unfounded . Instead , it was Mexico which looked the more threatening of the two teams with Oribe Peralta and Giovani Dos Santos both roaming menacingly towards the Brazilian goal . But while Neymar remained on the field , Brazil still possessed a man capable of producing magic . It was the 22-year-old who was denied by Ochoa once again , this time the Mexican blocking Neymar 's fierce drive from inside the penalty area . Brazil , having replaced the anonymous Fred with substitute Jo , began to crank up the pressure with Mexico visibly beginning to tire . Unbeaten in its previous 38 matches on home soil , Brazil rarely looked like losing but nor did it appear able to find that elusive goal . That frustration was increased with five minutes remaining when Thiago Silva 's powerful header was blocked on the line by Ochoa with the Brazilian captain looking certain to score . Marcelo , the left-back , then embarrassed himself by attempting to gain a late penalty with a dive which won him few admirers . Raul Jimenez went close at the other end , forcing Cesar into a smart save as both side 's failed to find a breakthrough . Brazil 's next game takes place on June 23rd against Cameroon while Mexico will take on Croatia .
Brazil lost to goalless draw by penalties . Both teams have four points from two games . Croatia finishes group stage against Cameroon on June 23 . Cameroon beat Croatia Wednesday .