Incompetent ref or is the fix in?

[Ron Obvious]

I had no dog in this fight. Like most neutrals, I've usually been at least mildly pro-Brazil.

The first half was fairly entertaining for an opener, and I would have been perfectly happy with Brazil coming out on top at the end. Neymar should have been off for that elbow to the face, of course, but I can understand the ref bottling a big decision involving the star player this early in the WC opener.

But that penalty decision was possibly the worst I've seen in my life. The ref must have seen what a blatant dive that was. And Fred unctuously thanking God for the decision! Sickening. If Croatia had had even had a mildly competent goal keeper, Brazil wouldn't have scored a single goal even with the ref's help.

Croatia's second was unjustly disallowed, and Brazil's third was preceded by a blatant foul in midfield.

We already knew FIFA were corrupt to the core off the pitch. There can now be no doubt that it extends to what happens on the pitch as well.

To repeat, I had no dog in this fight. I care nothing either way for Croatia and have typically felt positively towards Brazil.

No longer.

Sorry, Brazil, is this how it's going to be? I wish you nothing but ill after this if I'm even going to bother with the remainder of this tournament at all.

As far as I'm concerned, if riots shut down this tournament tomorrow, I just couldn't care less.

[BKH70041]

1. Bad ref call.

Happens in all sports. Brazil outplayed Croatia so no harm. At least it happened early in the tournament so other refs can be put on notice.

[Ron Obvious]

2. Brazil did NOT outplay Croatia

That's the point. If it hadn't been for the useless Croatian keeper and the ref, Brazil would've lost this one.

[BKH70041]

5. I disagree, they did outplay them.

Croatia did good in the first half, but they didn't get a goal the whole game. Brazil had the better chances. I agree the Croatian goalie stunk up the joint, that was the main problem. I guess everybody has a bad game from time to time, but the WC is not the place if you can help it, especially if you're in goal.

The only thing that confused me was the first 10-15 minutes of the 2nd half Brazil played defense in their own half of the field, just knocking the ball around. Very unlike them not to push forward.

3-1 was not an accurate reflection of the game. I'd say 1-0 would be better. Take away the own goal (which was just bad luck) and the penalty that shouldn't have happened, award half a goal for Neymar's shot which could have easily been saved, and half a goal for Oscar's goal which was fairly routine, and it's 1-0.

The Croatian's get Mandzukic back for their next game which should help them up front and maybe create some goal opportunities. They'll go through. Brazil will beat Cameroon and Mexico.

[T_i_B]

3. Hmmm....

I thought a yellow card was enough for Neymar's swinging arm.

The penalty decision was poor as it was a clear dive. And I didn't like the way Neymar took his run up. One of these days that is going to go very wrong for him.

Was it the worst penalty decision ever though? Well to be honest players routinely win penalties by simulation, often worse, more blatant simulation then that. It's one of the worst things about the modern game.

After that I finished watching for the evening so I missed Brazil's 3rd goal.

[jakeXT]

4. Dejan Lovren slams referee and calls for officials to be banned after Croatia's Brazil defeat

Furious Dejan Lovren has slammed the referee who gifted Brazil a win in last night's World Cup opener, and called for bungling officials to be banned, writes Ed Malyon in Sao Paulo.

The game was evenly-poised at 1-1 when the Croatia defender was adjudged to have felled Brazil striker Fred in the penalty area.

But replays clearly showed that the forward went down easily, and Southampton man Lovren raged at referee Shinji Nishimura.

"Of course I am angry,” he said. “I want to cry now but what can you do?"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2014/dejan-lovren-slams-referee-calls-3685453

[BeyondGeography]

6. Two Mexican goals wrongly disallowed in the first half but they just scored

thankfully. They should be up 3-0 and they have dominated pretty much throughout.

Blown offsides calls again. Really pathetic.

[Codeine]

7. Simulation is part of the game, like it or not.

And seriously, how loudly can Croatia complain after Bilic's nonsense in '98?