Brazil got the 2014 World Cup underway last night with a less than convincing 3-1 victory against a very unlucky Croatian side.
Possibly the most under pressure side since the 1950 Brazilian squad, today’s Brazil went down to an early own goal by Marcelo after Croatia took advantage of the attacking minded Brazilian full back Dani Alves. Olic crossed in low and the ball deflected off the right foot of the Real Madrid left-back, leaving Julio Cesar with no chance.
Brazil were struggling to look like the side they were a year ago in the Confederations cup and when Neymar raised his arm to Luka Modric, it looked for all the world that he would be getting a very early bath. Instead, he got yellow and instantly rubbed salt into those Croatian wounds picking up the ball and firing past a very nervy looking Croatian goalkeeper to level the game at 1-1. From that moment you felt as though the pressure on this young mans shoulders had been lifted and the team started to play a lot better, but without really threatening the Croats goal.
In the second half Croatia started the better and had a few half chances through Olic and Jelavic but did not really test Cesar. Then after 71 minutes, controversy, Fred turns in the box and goes down under a challenge from Lovren. The referee points to the spot but on replay there is little evidence of any real contact, although Lovren does have his arms on the Brazilian forward. Neymar scores the resulting penalty and go 2-1 up. Not long after Croatia have a goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper, again, leaving them feeling hard done by. Croatia try desperately to get the equaliser but in the 90th minutes, man of the match Oscar toe pokes home to give Brazil a 3-1 victory, which was not as easy as first expected.
Looking back at the game I don’t agree with all the criticism the referee got. Although he made a few wrong decisions from his angle it did look like Fred had been pulled back and I think a lot of referees would have made the same decision. But that’s over with now and Brazil done what was expected of them, they won the game and will look ahead to next weeks game against Mexico, where a win will more than likely see them through to the last 16. Today we have Mexico v Cameroon in the final group A match, and then at 8pm we will see a repeat of the 2010 final when Spain entertain Holland. Finally, at 11pm Chile take on Australia. Check out my predictions page to see what I think the outcome of all today’s games will be.
Tee Time 