Brazil’s star shines in opening game
SAO PAULO — He exited in the 87th minute to an ovation from 61,606 adoring subjects that befitted a king of the realm. At the very least, a crown prince ambitious for the throne.
With expectations of a sixth World Cup title already firmly planted in the imaginations of the non-protesting portion of the Brazilian populace, the Selecao were greeted as already conquering heroes when they trotted out onto the immaculately groomed Arena de Sao Paulo carpet late Thursday afternoon.
This was World Cup atmosphere at its most electric. J.Lo, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian chanteuse Claudia Leitte had performed earlier during the opening ceremonies. Still they had to accept second billing to the headliner everyone had paid good money to see: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior.
“Futbol’s” latest prodigy certainly didn’t disappoint to open a tournament many believe will usher in a new era, his era, on the worldwide stage, scoring a lovely snooker goal off a post to open Brazil’s account and then from the penalty spot as the pretournament favourites got off a solid, if controversially fortunate, start, sliding past Croatia 3-1. Neymar was, quite simply, irresistible.
If you’re a Croatian, though, the man of the match for Brazil wasn’t the slender Barcelona star but Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura.
An absolutely atrocious penalty call unfortunately stained what otherwise was a showcase start to the tournament. Whether it was merely an odious call or worse, a reputation call, only Nishimura can say beyond doubt. What is beyond question is the only people capable of defending the decision are Brazilian devotees.
“If that’s a penalty,” said Croatian coach Nino Kovac, with admirable restraint during his post-match media conference, “we don’t need to play football anymore. Let’s play basketball instead.
“It’s a shame. The referee had different set of rules for us and different for Brazil. Shameful refereeing for (the) World Cup!”
A slight touch on a shoulder from Croatian defender Dejan Lovren and Brazilian striker Fred went down as if he’d been pushed out of an airplane or body slammed by Hulk Hogan. Still, Nishimura, to the utter disbelief of the Croatians, fell for it.
What the game needed off the hop to fire it to life was a goal from the underdogs. So lo and behold, the courageous Croatians stunned both the crowd and Big Phil Scolari’s men on 11 minutes, and when Ivica Olic’s searching low cross from the right flank was deflected on by striker Nikica Jelavic and toe-poked into his own net by a backtracking Marcelo.
From then on, Brazil poured forward in numbers. Piling on the pressure finally paid off as Neymar pulled the trigger on a skittering shot that glanced in off the post.
The ever-influential Oscar added a third late.
Off the run of play, over and above Nishimura’s moment of mad gullibility, the Brazilians were fully deserving of the three points.