World Cup 2014!

[Aramonde]

watching the game on a stream. Good game so far, plus i have people i know in a chat teaching me about the rules.

[ZeroAX]

oh come on that was a shitty excuse for a penalty

EDIT

[Blu]

Yep, what a shit match to start the World Cup. Brazil was in poor form the whole game, and got a lucky second (third goal) because the Croat defense didn't collapse on Oscar.

[ZeroAX]

It was a fun game. Many good opportunities for goals. The end result doesn't tell the picture of the game though imo.

And I'm sorry but, is this the Brazil that everyone expects to win the world cup? Unless the super biased refs strike back (I'm looking at you South Korea in 2002), I REALLY don't see them doing well. They are a good team at best. I don't think they can win against Spain or Germany.

[Sload Soap]

I agree, Brazil's style of play left acres of space for the opposition to move into. Against Croatia it cost them a goal and probably should have cost another. Against a quality counter-attacking team like Spain or Germany they'll be hacked to pieces. Reminded me of Argentina at the last world cup in that respect. It is something however that Brazil can work on in training.

Terrible referring decision. Not a penalty and also not a push on the goalie by Ilic. I feel for Croatia. They played very well, had a couple of outstanding performances (Perisic was immense) and didn't just sit back and defend. I'll have to save my judgement on Mexico and Cameroon until I see them play tomorrow but on this performance, the teams that played tonight should be the teams to advance.

Good game though overall, marred by some dodgy refereeing. But that's football in a nutshell.

[ZeroAX]

Actually the foul on the goalie was a foul cause it was inside the small box area. But yeah that penalty was a joke. Home advantage I guess :/. For a second there I thought luck would punish them with that HOOOORRIBLE penalty execution (I mean even I could tell which way the ball was going to go when he stopped to change position), but after hitting the goalie's hands it went in.

I really do hope Croatia moves on to the next stage, they played really well.

[Sload Soap]

Actually the foul on the goalie was a foul cause it was inside the small box area.

Good point and it is something that is enforced more in international competition than in the regular season. I still thought Cesar flapped at it and Ilic was in his within his right to challenge for it.

I was joking with a friend that every time Dejan Lovren touched the ball his transfer fee to Liverpool went up a million quid. Solid performance and unlucky that Fred's only contribution to the game was to con the ref into giving him a penalty off him.

There was a small protest outside the ITV studio after the game as well but nothing violent. So, all good. Except the awful commentary. So biased for no reason.

[ZeroAX]

There was a small protest outside the ITV studio after the game as well but nothing violent. So, all good. Except the awful commentary. So biased for no reason.

What's ITV? And biased in favor of whom?

[Blu]

Brozovic came in an played lovely off the bench.
Lovren was fantastic.
Pletikosa started amazing and made a few great saves, then what happened with the balls that came from the ground? Was he being screened, because it's not like they were coming in with a lot of pace.
Corluka had some great defending and then made a poor tackle on Neymar.
Pericic was probably my favorite player of the match.

Overall I thought Croatia had a lot better possession when they were in it. Their crosses were fantastic and Brazil was struggling to defend their switches of the field. I agree though, Brazil will get lit up on a team that has quick counterattacking.

[Sload Soap]

Sorry, should have been clearer. ITV is the UK's second biggest TV station. And they were biased (almost ludicrously so) towards Brazil in this game. Host nation fever probably. But it's just bad punditry when you focus on everything Brazil did and not how the game was being played on the whole.