**Official World Cup Brazil 2014 Thread**

[Allnightlong]

Brazil were never going to lose that game, can you imagine the civil unrest if they go out at the first hurdle.
As long as the hosts are still in the comp it will keep a very loose lid on the unrest

 

[SebastianBlue]

Can we stick to the football please. It's been dealt with.

Yes

Does anyone else feel that if the refereeing is so bent that you get more frustrated than entertained, it's time to watch something else?

If you truly believe it is bent then why watch it ?

Some of these decisions are to be expected in favour of a home nation in world cup.

Some weak refereeing tonight and a mistake for the penalty. it doesn't make it bent.

Not a criticism of you, as your point is fair, but I think it would be very naive to believe there is no corruption in World Cup outcomes. There is corruption in every other aspect of the tournament (and every other industry, for that matter).

What I mean to say, is it takes far more blind faith to believe it is a completely clean tournament.

 

[Allnightlong]

Can we stick to the football please. It's been dealt with.

Yes

Does anyone else feel that if the refereeing is so bent that you get more frustrated than entertained, it's time to watch something else?

If you truly believe it is bent then why watch it ?

Some of these decisions are to be expected in favour of a home nation in world cup.

Some weak refereeing tonight and a mistake for the penalty. it doesn't make it bent.

Expected descions.......no no and no. That is wrong

 

[Blue Punter]

Joey Barton working for Eurosport. Broadcasting from the balcony above the ITV studio. Four helicopters overhead and a load of police cars outside. Must have known he was in town.

 

[80s Shorts]

Yes

Does anyone else feel that if the refereeing is so bent that you get more frustrated than entertained, it's time to watch something else?

If you truly believe it is bent then why watch it ?

Some of these decisions are to be expected in favour of a home nation in world cup.

Some weak refereeing tonight and a mistake for the penalty. it doesn't make it bent.

Not a criticism of you, as your point is fair, but I think it would be very naive to believe there is no corruption in World Cup outcomes. There is corruption in every other aspect of the tournament (and every other industry, for that matter).

What I mean to say, is it takes far more blind faith to believe it is a completely clean tournament.

Go and put your life savings on Brazil to win it then.

 

[Chris in London]

Can we stick to the football please. It's been dealt with.

Yes

Does anyone else feel that if the refereeing is so bent that you get more frustrated than entertained, it's time to watch something else?

If you truly believe it is bent then why watch it ?

Some of these decisions are to be expected in favour of a home nation in world cup.

Some weak refereeing tonight and a mistake for the penalty. it doesn't make it bent.

No of course not. It's just a shame that an incompetent, easily swayed, spineless, out of his depth referee was chosen to handle the opening game. Nothing bent here. Nothing bent about Qatar or Russia hosting the next two world cups either.

 

[Manc in London]

Steady on. Take the penalty out of there and it was pretty even. The foul on the keeper was softish, but keepers get them 99/100 these days. Nothing like watching a City game in Europe

Alves kicked last Croatia player when he was through on goal

Neymar should have got a red

Brazil player kick on Modric

The penalty

The disallowed goal against Croatia, he made no contact with the Brazil keeper.

And every other 50/50 decision went in Brazils favour , it totally ruined the game and the outcome should be totally different.

Alves' was accidental collision.

Neymar should have got a yellow, which he did. If it was a Croatia player who got sent off the place would be screaming corruption.

The penalty was a poor decision but ref has a split-second to see it and make a decision.

Disagree about the 50/50s

Linesman gave the decision against Olic and the keepers get them 9 times out of 10.

The ref had a better view of the incident and could have overruled the decision. The failure of the ref to award the goal and to give a penalty to Brazil were poor decisions. The two big decisions in the game were incorrect and benefitted the hosts. The majority of his decisions do not have to be incorrect for him to have a poor game. The ref had a shocker.

 

[nijinsky's fetlocks]

Bad refereeing aside, Brazil are utter gash, and a half decent Championship side would have beaten them tonight.
They are very mediocre, and just how they are favourites based on tonight's display is beyond me.

 

[Lavinda Past]

Can we stick to the football please. It's been dealt with.

Yes

Does anyone else feel that if the refereeing is so bent that you get more frustrated than entertained, it's time to watch something else?

If you truly believe it is bent then why watch it ?

Some of these decisions are to be expected in favour of a home nation in world cup.

Some weak refereeing tonight and a mistake for the penalty. it doesn't make it bent.

But it does make you wonder... Let's see what happens next time Brazil fall short of expectations (probably in their next match). Weak referees trying to curry favour with the hosts and make a name for themselves. If it carries on like tonight, I suspect a lot of people will be opting for the 'off' switch by the third round of games.

If that had been England rather than Crotia, the press would have been up in arms. Shit ref - possibly bent.

 

[BigOscar]

Ignoring all the other stuff, I thought both sides were poor. All 4 of Brazils defenders were awful (especially Alves), while Paulinho, Hulk and Fred had a competition as to who could touch the ball the least. Croatia were very dissapointing, no balance in midfield, weak in the tackle and the poor lad at LB was awful, that's before even mentioning the shocking keeper. I expected a lot more from both teams, but I'll let Brazil off with the nerves excuse, as the pre match scenes were pretty monumental, so I can possible forgive them getting a bit tense.

Only really Oscar, Gustavo and Perisic did much to impress, everyone else was very dissapointing