When did you come back, SD?

To the forum anyway

Fucking Neymar!

Kind of Brazil to gift one. Still on track for 3-1

Not bad for an opening game. Loving the squirty white line.

Meh. Soft

That was stupid.

Jesus Split. 80000 ?

This ref is terrible...no way Brazil should've gotten that last kick for their 2nd goal.

Out of nowhere

Shame for Croatia, it looked like they had a shot of maybe coming away with a tie at least, and that'd have been something...

3-1 Brazil!!!!!!

Sandgoose is winning some money tonight! :D

I am a Brazil fan but Croatia deserved better for sure

"This ref is terrible" -- get used to saying that a lot whenever Brazil's playing. They may as well put them in the final right now and have everyone else play in the other bracket.

Croatia deserved a LOT better...arguably a two-goal swing against them, with the bad call leading to Neymar's second goal and waving off Croatia's potential second goal.

And betting on Brazil to win is like betting on Michelle Bachmann to say something stupid, Sandgoose...who the hell gave you odds on that one? xD

All my croatian friends...3 in all, who owe me a lovely 150 a piece :D

Croatia's second "goal" was properly waved off, as called by both AR and CR. Body checking the keeper going up with a forearm hitting the keep is going to be called, and the whistle went off a LOOONG time before the shot.

Lovren was playing with fire with the tug on Fred's arm, and looking at the angle from Nishimura's angle, it certainly looked like holdng at speed. Fred made a meal of it for sure, but it wasn't like Lovren didn't have contact.

But I'd like to see the contact before Brazil's third again, since it sure looked like a foul but the camera was pulled too far back to tell, Nishimura was well positioned and I haven't seen replays.

Croatia had zero offense tonight aside from their breakaway second goal that was waved off. They could generate nothing on that side of the ball. The penalty was a shit call but didn't change the outcome, not when Croatia's defense gifted Oscar that wide open toe poke.

@Nishimura how much did you ask for this? :)
Sad,sad,too sad... We are so f... done!

Agreed 2WL. I wanted a draw but the two goals scored by Brazil (not the PK) were completely out of the blue. Both goals the keeper was flat-footed and should have had them. All give the keeper for Croatia some credit on the first goal because the ball may have been in his blind-spot, but regardless, that third goal should not have went in. Not to mention the keeper for Croatia should have blocked that PK. Right in his arms.

There's no way you can fault the keeper for failing to block that rocket of a penalty from Neymar, however, if he had gone for the punch instead of the open handed block, just maybe...

Not much of soccer fan but I am trying to get into it during the WC. Must be good advertising (craving coke and Mickey D's). Anyway, what upcoming game should I watch to peak my interest in the sport?

That's right 2nd,give the poor keeper a break,he was great,as allways.
My neighbour by the way,went to school with me...
That defender (Lovren) is a brainless moron but we can't find a better defender...

I have played my share of keeper and punching that ball would have saved it. He kinda flopped it with his fore arms. I am not saying it was all the keepers fault. In soccer, a goal is everyone's fault, down to the manager. He played a great game.

That is pretty cool that the keeper was your neighbor Split. Did you go to school with any other of the players?

I know the keeper and the right full back (Srna),those two only are from Split and old enough for me,the other players are from the next generation.I know more of the ex-players now,who are Split natives,such as Tudor,Boksic,Jarni,Stimac,Asanovic, Bilic... if you ever heard of them.These are from the generation that won the third place in '98 world cup.

That is actually pretty cool Split. One more question to rest my curiosity. Have you ever played soccer with these players?

Unofficial,friendly matches? - of course. With these two active ones and with Tudor. Twenty years ago though.And a bit more.

As a brasilian I can say I didn´t like the match and also the outcome. A draw would be the fairest result and will also keep the brasilian team on check. Now they are a bit relaxed and also all the eyes will be on the referees on the next games.

But I don´t think that the mistake from the referee was that big, it wasn´t penalty, but the defender really put the hands on Fred just not with enough strenght to bring him down. The second "goal" from Croacia was a clear fault, unless you are playing rugby.

And the referees mistakes on Mexico´s game today were way bigger and no one is saying that Cameroon payed the referee.

Yeah but conspiracy is so much fun. It's a Diplomacy forum, for crying out loud. Don't ruin it for us, rdrivera2005.

They weren't bad calls. On both of the goals mexico was offside. and you could see that.

Mario Balotelli, 1:2 England down.
What about those Costaricans?! Aren't they awesome?

RIP Gary Lewin's ankle