Flip

Yeah before the game I'd said Oscar and Dani out for Maicon and Willian. As for Hulk, he's not a central player, he doesn't have the intelligence and Fred will get better as the tournament goes as shown in the Confed. Fred is also a big leader in the squad and always pushing his teammates. I rate Paulinho higher but there's no denying that he's still unfit, he didn't look the part at all yesterday and if he doesn't get better one of those two should get ahead of him for the Cameroon game and then stay there if they do well. The only change I'd for the Mexico game would be Maicon in for Dani at the moment, but Scolari will want them to gel. Lucas and Coutinho didn't go because neither are good enough. It's really as simple as that. Bernard is the same as Lucas but better for occasions like this, has more passion for the game. Coutinho is like Hernanes, shows up when he feels like it and until he can play conistently well for months he won't even be considered for the national team. I'd have taken both of them over Hernanes any day of the week and hope Hernanes doesn't get another minute in the world cup. Almost gifted them a goal yesterday.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty. I expect him not to make a complete fool out of himself, and not delude himself, his team or his fans in thinking the win was 100% deserved/a present from the heavens for good behavior/par for the course/etc... Brazil could have easily been embarrassed last night by a determined Croatian team, and it should have served as a reminder that neither Scolari nor his team can be complacent if they are serious about the tournament - and they can win it. Scolari said that had it been reversed roles he'd be saying the same as Kovac. He said Croatia were excellent and should qualify from this group with ease. Also, Brazil were the better side all game, Croatia were unlucky but let's not make it like they dominated Brazil and draw would've been the fairest result. 'Embarrass' Which part of the word "could" is difficult to understand? That was clearly not Brazil at their best. If that was the best they could do in this tournament, then they haven't got a chance. Moreover, had the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the Brazilian fans would have seen it as an embarrassment. Regardless of opposition, they would have expected to win the opening game of the world cup they are hosting. There's no telling what could have been had the ref not awarded a penalty for that blatant "miracle" dive. Up until that point, Brazil were struggling to create anything, and would have got more frustrated as the half wore on. Yeah sorry about that. I thought you meant that Croatia were much better. I think the game looked like a typical opening bore fest. Referee saved us from that. No denying that Croatia deserved a point, I expect much better from us as the nerves should be gone now.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty. I expect him not to make a complete fool out of himself, and not delude himself, his team or his fans in thinking the win was 100% deserved/a present from the heavens for good behavior/par for the course/etc... Brazil could have easily been embarrassed last night by a determined Croatian team, and it should have served as a reminder that neither Scolari nor his team can be complacent if they are serious about the tournament - and they can win it. Scolari said that had it been reversed roles he'd be saying the same as Kovac. He said Croatia were excellent and should qualify from this group with ease. Also, Brazil were the better side all game, Croatia were unlucky but let's not make it like they dominated Brazil and draw would've been the fairest result. 'Embarrass'

Huh? He saved two excellent shots and couldn't do anything in the goal. He did everything that was asked for him? Or are you one of those putting the ''Olic clatters over him'', on him?

Him, Hulk, Fred and Paulinho were horrible. Dani was pretty bad and Thiago had to cover for two all night long. The defenders on that flank had bad games in my opinion Vrsaljko & Dani. Luiz Gustavo is the man, such a class defensive midfielder. No wonder Wolfsburg fans love him despite being sent off 3 times this season. He is just everywhere, and is so calm on the ball.

What do you expect him to say? Roberto Martinez is spanish and did the same re the Haidara tackle. It's all mind games ffs, he knows deep inside it's not a penalty.

Intersting for stats from the game. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255931/match=300186456/statistics.html Olic ran the most. More than 11km. Impressive. Only Luiz Gustavo reached above 11km as well.

I think his sprint to the refs in the 2nd half suggested else by the way. 3-4 times he took a 30-40 yard run to go complain to the ref. Was really impressed by his stamina.

He was horrible man. Oscar dominated that flank and without some help he should've been off before the half was over. Considering he was often on his own back there he was solid. Olic hardly helped out! We watched completely different games, IMO Olic was excellent all game. He kept covering for Vrsaljko and without his cover I think we would've won this game easily. You have to remember that Olic can't defend both Oscar and Dani by himself. Guess so. Thought he did well considering he was out of position. He certainly kept Bulk quiet when he went out there. It's all subjective anyways.

He was horrible man. Oscar dominated that flank and without some help he should've been off before the half was over. Considering he was often on his own back there he was solid. Olic hardly helped out! We watched completely different games, IMO Olic was excellent all game. He kept covering for Vrsaljko and without his cover I think we would've won this game easily. You have to remember that Olic can't defend both Oscar and Dani by himself.

The three peace doves they released before the game: 1 was found in the press box in the end of th evening and the other two flew into the stadium walls and died. Told my dad about it and he told me that in Seoul in the olympics the peace doves flew into the fire Why do they do this to the poor birds? There's no peace one earth, give up.

He was horrible man. Oscar dominated that flank and without some help he should've been off before the half was over.

"I asked the sales girl for something exciting. She found these and said they are canary. I said they're not canary, they're pants and they're yellow. Giggled for days."

Like Mole said though, I think he should've been playing further up the pitch.

I'm not saying he was since he basically gave us a goal. But I can't believe people are complaining about a disallowed goal that came 1000seconds and 2 shots after the whistle was blown correctly. Anyways 3 points is 3 points at this stage and I think both teams know it very well that it was a massively unfair scoreline.

Cannavaro said after the game that 'FIFA rules' say that you can't touch the keeper in the 6-yard box? In which case it is a foul but it's a f***ing stupid rule Rule has been around for ages. That's what the 6 yard line is there for. That said, I'm not even sure that qualified last night. Actually, that may be wrong. Just googled for a rule protecting a goalkeeper in the 6 yard box, but it appears to not or no longer exist. Maybe somebody with a better grasp of the rules can explain. You can touch the goalkeeper I think, but you can't impede the goalkeeper to move in the 6-yard-box which is exactly what Olic did. At least in SA these fouls are always blown, honestly, I don't think I've ever seen a ref not blow a foul for that. Even in the PL and big European leagues we see that consistently, but because it was Brazil and they got a horrible pen people are trying to make more out of it. Now Unbelievable, I'm going to Arena Fonte Nova to watch your god damn team, and I'm starting to hope they actually win. I'm starting to think that Spain shouldn't get out of that group because they'll win it all if they do.

The pen wasn't dodgy, the pen was appaling. Was horrible to give it, but I've seen this ref give stuff under pressure. It's all on FIFA. However, if he was a ''homer'' is bullshit. He let some Croatian players make 5-6 fouls. Vrsaljko who scissored Oscar down at the corner flag had more than his fair share of terrible tackles to still be on the pitch. He just had a bad game all around, my new hero though: http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Yuichi+Nishimura+Olympics+Day+5+Men+Football+XB-BkwQlreyl.jpg

Until today I can't really figure it out He covers Dani well, but he played most part on the left and looked lost. I understand playing Neymar centrally but you can't put Hulk on the left as his it hurts the only thing he's good at, cutting inside and unleashing a shot (that 95% of the times goes outside the stadium) He's excellent defensively tbf to him, i think Scolari put him on the left to stop Srna getting forward. Which worked to be fair, he was a non-factor. Possibly, but Srna was always going to be a non-factor with any of our wingers there since he can't bomb forward and let our wingers exploit the space behind him. I personally think it was more down to Neymar doing well centrally and Oscar not getting enough time on the ball centrally in previous games. So he moved Neymar into the center, Oscar wide right and let Hulk play left hoping he'd whip a cross in or two for Fred to head home. Never happened though

He played with heart and hustle. Something that he's lacked over the last 18 months for the national team. Back to his early season Chelsea form.

Until today I can't really figure it out He covers Dani well, but he played most part on the left and looked lost. I understand playing Neymar centrally but you can't put Hulk on the left as his it hurts the only thing he's good at, cutting inside and unleashing a shot (that 95% of the times goes outside the stadium)

Oscar getting far less love than Neymar in the media. Neymar even got the official MOTM. Oscar produced one of the best 70minutes I've seen from a national team player in a very long time. he started dead, was calling for him to be subbed off, but then something happened. Scolari looked like telling him to wake up and he apparently started running and playing like a man possessed.

Haven't seen him play before (Kovacic), but yeah I felt Rakitic was playing to deep as well.

Kovacic disappeared. Corluka was slow and he would've had tons of problem had Neymar run more at him. Vrsaljko got killed all day. Srna was decent though. It's clear he got respect from Brazilian players as neither Neymar, Marcelo or Bernard were trying to challenge him. I really enjoyed Olic. What an engine he was tonight. Never stopped running. Isn't he like 45 years old? His crosses will be deadly with Manduzkic there and Perisic attacking far post from behind the fullbacks like he did tonight against Marcelo. Brozovic didn't get much time, but is he a promising player?

Thank f*** you're just an idiot on N-O than a refereee then. I'd rather be an idiot on N-O than agree with Andy Townsend tbh. It's never a penalty though Tron. Brazil got extremely lucky with that call.