Well a day where you run 4 miles, go to Starbucks, and watch the World Cup is pretty awesome day. You Best and Worst Jersey people, don't worry, it will be out later tonight or later tomorrow. For now, lets focus on the first game of the World Cup.
The biggest stage in the world, this is it, especially as the host nation with so much weight on your shoulders. The worst possible thing that could happen for Brazil would be for Marcelo to score an own goal and put the Croatians up 1-0. But surely that was impossible, Brazil is a much better team. Well that is exactly what happened. Croatia started the game much better than Brazil and looked like they had a goal in them. I was only semi surprised when the first goal went in, I was more surprised that it was an own goal. The OG didn't deflate the hopes of Brazil, the poster boy as they're calling him, Neymar, didn't really get ahold of his left footed shot, but it snuck past the keeper, hit the post, and went into the goal. Some people are questioning the goalie and asking why he didn't get to it quicker as the shot rolled pretty slow across the pitch, but he saw it late and it was expertly placed. If one person was going to start a comeback for an entire nation, it would have to be Neymar, and that's exactly what he did.
Now to the most controversial part of the game, the penalty call in the second half. Fred dived. I love Fred and I think he's a good player, but it was clearly a dive. The past Premier League season I have seen many defenders pull on the shoulders of the attacker and as the striker went down the ref just waved his arms no. Even if it was a clear foul the ref would never point to the spot, but in the world cup, as the Croatian defender tugged slightly on Fred's shoulder, his legs flew up and his arms flailed in every direction. He clearly sold it to the ref and that's probably what gave Brazil the 3 points. I am not saying that announcers or experts are always right, I usually do not agree with them, but not one of them said the penalty call was a good call. Anyways, Neymar put it in, just barely though as the Croatian keeper got his hands to it.
After that Croatia still put up a very good effort. They didn't give up and created more chances. Julio Cesar made a few saves but Croatia couldn't find the back of the net. After a Croatia chance Brazil went on the counter and Oscar slid one past the keeper. Again, the keeper was questioned. I think on this one he might have been able to save it, but it wasn't as easy a save as some people are making it sound.
Overall Brazil might be looking at the match as a bit of a disappointment but they got the three points and that's what matters. The outcome could have been much different and I think Croatia will be at least a little happy with their performance. Of course, they wont be thrilled, no one should be after losing, but they should carry the good performance into their matches against Cameroon and Mexico.
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