The Brazilians will have hoped for more. In their own country, the Brazilian team appeared somewhat reserved and unmotivated in the opening game. Instead, the players strut around at the start as if they were the masters in the house and already world champions. They push the ball back and forth in their own half of the game, there's not much going on at all. Playing forward, attacking decisively, goes differently. Football matches at a World Cup are often not as gripping as one would hope, but in the first half, the Brazilians, who are considered to be the heavy favorites, have a difficult start. And the reward follows promptly: The Croats attack decisively, play the Brazilians out in midfield and score the first goal after 10 minutes and 16 seconds. Unpleasantly, Marcelo is the last to touch the ball, an own goal. How embarrassing. Thank goodness the Brazilians have Neymar, who shortly after rightly earning a yellow card, then hits the goal with a spirited shot into the bottom right corner and equalizes after 29 minutes. After the first half, the score is 1-1.
The second half is initially quite even again, the Croats convince with strong moves, are aggressive, determined, the only bright spot for the Brazilians is Neymar. In the 68th minute, Hulk, who disappointed overall, leaves the field. Shortly after, Brazil gets a penalty because Fred falls in the penalty area, you can't see a real foul, even if he is held a little by the jersey of Dejan Lovren. A penalty on this basis is a gift, the decision of referee Yuichi Nishimura seems a clear mistake. Neymar takes a run-up and shoots the penalty into the goal, even though the Croatian goalkeeper Pletikosa still gets to the ball. 71st minute 2:1 for Brazil, somewhat undeserved. The Croats, however, do not give up, show their attacking spirit, start counterattacks again and again and in the 83rd minute the ball lands in the goal of the Brazilians, but Olic fouls Cesar. The Croats are really unlucky. Perisic's shot from 20 meters in the 90th minute is blocked by Julio Cesar. In return, Oscar runs away from the Croats and scores with the tip to make it 3:1 for Brazil.
Overall, the result is as expected, but the game showed that the Brazilian eleven still has weaknesses and needs to improve quite a bit. Also, the strong focus on Neymar seems to me to be a clear risk for the further course of the tournament. The Brazilians can't really be satisfied with their performance, only the result is cause for celebration.
English 
Deutsch 
Français 
Español 
Italiano