Brazil opens World Cup with victory
Star striker Neymar have given Brazil a winning start to its home World Cup, scoring twice to lead them to an unconvincing 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening game in Sao Paulo.
Brazil had a disastrous start when defender Marcelo scored an own goal while trying to clear a low cross by Ivica Olic in the 11th minute, but Neymar then showed why the nation’s high hopes are all pinned on him.
The 22-year-old forward equalised in the 29th minute, clearing a defender in midfield before making a run toward the edge of the area and firing a perfectly placed low shot that went in off the post.
The game turned on a controversial penalty awarded by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura in the 71st minute when striker Fred went down inside the area under minimal contact from defender Dejan Lovren.
Neymar scored from the spot and the Croatians were furious.
“If that was a penalty, we should be playing basketball,” said Croatia coach Niko Kovac. “Those kinds of fouls are penalised there.”
“That is shameful, this is not a World Cup referee. He had one kind of criteria for them and another for us. The rules were not the same,” said Kovac.
As Croatia searched desperately for an equaliser, Oscar added to the lead in the first minute of injury time with a toe poke from just outside the penalty area.
Croatia had a few good chances toward the end and had a goal disallowed in the 83rd after the referee ruled Olic had fouled Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
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The host nation hasn’t lost in the opening match in the last nine World Cups. South Africa was held by Mexico to a 1-1 draw four years ago.
The five-time champion entered the home tournament having won 15 of its last 16 games, including five in last year’s Confederations Cup.
Despite the support from most of the more than 62,100 fans in attendance, Brazil got off to a slow start and allowed Croatia to threaten early.
It opened the scoring with one of its first chances as Marcelo failed to clear Olic’s cross. The ball got slightly redirected by striker Nikica Jelavic before the Brazilian defender touched it backward into the goal.
The crowd stayed behind the team despite the setback and Brazil started creating more chances. Midfielder Paulinho and playmaker Oscar both came close to scoring, but it was Neymar who found the net with his well-struck low shot into the far corner.
“I wouldn’t say it was the best game, but it’s the World Cup debut,” said Oscar. “I’m representing the national team and I’m giving it my best. And I managed to do this.”
The penalty kick was awarded when Fred appeared to be tugged inside the area by Lovren. The Croats insisted Fred wasn’t touched and at least five Croatian players swarmed around Nishimura of Japan to protest.
Neymar converted his shot from the spot even though Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa touched the ball and nearly made the save.
Meanwhile, after immense doubt Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has declared key midfielder Arturo Vidal fit for what he’s termed their World Cup “final” against Australia.
Chile’s opening clash with the Socceroos in Cuiaba on Friday (Saturday AEST) looms as their most important with a win putting the South Americans in a position to challenge fellow group B opponents the Netherlands and Spain for qualification for the next round.
“This is really a first final for us against Australia. Our margin for error is small,” Sampaoli said on Thursday.
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Vidal’s influence on the side is considered immeasurable, with the 28-year-old regarded as one of the the most complete midfielders, just as important in attack as in defence.
The Juventus star’s participation was in jeopardy after struggling with inflammation of his right knee following surgery last month.
But Sampaoli confirmed that the dead-ball specialist’s troubles were behind him.
“This story’s over I think. The physio’s done a marvellous job, Vidal’s diagnosis is clear, there’s a high chance he’ll play,” he said.
“His injury was rather complicated. We will now make a decision on whether he starts on the pitch, or on the bench.”
Chile, who came third in South American qualifying, are considered the dark horses of the tournament after some impressive recent results with many tipping them to have a deep run.
Sampaoli says with Australia, the lowest-ranked team in Brazil, fielding a relatively young and inexperienced side, the pressure is squarely on his charges to perform.
“Australia are a difficult team, they’ve changed their set up, they come here without pressure,” he said.
“Whereas for us we must face nervousness and pressure.”
Sampaoli’s side is known for a high-pressing fiercely attacking style of play but one that can be exploited by a quick counter attack.
The Chilean mentor said he was prepared for this.
“We believe Australia will wait for us and counter. I need my players to be nimble and quick to break through strong defences,” he said.
Sampaoli said he had also seen a difference in the Socceroos’ style under coach Ange Postecoglou, one that isn’t based around their traditionally physical approach.
“There has been an enormous evolution. The physical approach, that was their history,” he said.
“I think their new manager has coached them differently, instead of being physical it’ll be a different kind of duel.”
