There were riots before the match last night all centred around the cost of staging the WC when there are other massive problems with poverty throughout Brazil. So Brazil actually losing the opening game was unthinkable for the organisers. Well that's what happened last night, from my viewpoint. 1. Neymar should have been sent off for the elbow on Modrich. It was premeditated. 2. No way that was a penalty. 3. Croatia's second goal should not have been disallowed. The ref knew the score had to be 3 - 1 because that was my prediction on the prediction thread. I'd never have paid him otherwise
FFS... 1. Modric looked at Neymar and led with a arm too but Neymar won. No or two reds, not one #intent 2. Could have gone either way but the defender gave Fred the opportunity by holding his shoulder. 3. Agreed The ref ****ed up, it was meant to be 4-0
I agree with 1 and 2 but not 3 - the keeper was fouled. Have to say Brazil don't look anything special and that game could have gone either way.
Other than the penalty decision would you say the refereeing was 'scandalous' as Croatia are claiming?
I thought the thrid goal was a clear foul on Croatian in midfield just before oscar got it but i also felt the keeper looked distinctly dodgy and might also be on the pay roll. it looked really really dodgy.
Ref had a shocker but I suspect every ref in the tournament would have given a foul for Croatia's disallowed goal, just how the rules are unfortunately I thought as much but it never got mentioned, thought I must have been seeing things..
I didn't think he had a shocker other than the penalty which was a big mistake but we've seen them given in same circumstances. I agree with you and mito on the third goal, it also seemed to roll in very slowly [not talking about the replay before anyone says].
Not a penalty, not ever. Had Suarez fallen over like that, we wouldn't be hearing the end of it. Ditto the elbow. Croatia's goal could have stood. Ramires did seem to ram the legs of the defender before he got to the ball that rolled on Oscar's path for the 3d. No TV station ever showed that, of course. Allow video replay you fuc*ing scum of a federation!
Never a pen. Didn't Young try that in the CL a few months ago and got booked. Touched on the shoulder and goes down, put it this way, it was as much as a peno as Costa's today, neither were. Dowd or Webb if reffing that would have waved that away I reckon.
