So, having had almost 24 hours to think this over, and easily 100+ opportunities to look at the most controversial highlight from the opening match of the World Cup, here's what I've got.
First, the positives.
Neymar was great, and I'm a huge Neymar doubter. A little undisciplined on the yellow card (and if he had seen a red card for it, I would not have been shocked) but overall he didn't do much of the diving and whining and sneakiness he has been sometimes known for. That equalizing goal was sheer accuracy from 20 yards, and he had was instrumental in Brazil going forward. There has been talk of this World Cup being his showcase stage; I'd be very afraid if I played for Mexico or Cameroon...because Neymar looks confident and in form.
I was also very impressed with Croatia's pace, especially when they got the ball wide and tried to play in behind the Brazilian backline. Thiago Silva is arguably the best defender in the world and more than once he looked to be at sixes and sevens with some of the crosses and darting runs from the Croatian attackers. So, despite losing, hopefully the Croatians take some confidence away from that performance (but not too much confidence, because I don't have them advancing in my bracket).
Now, the negatives.
Fred. What can I say, he was having a decent game until 'the incident'. Now, the rules are pretty clear that you can't pull on a player, and (despite claims to the contrary) Lovren clearly pulled back on Fred's left shoulder. Of course, the pull from Lovren was not nearly worthy of the manner in which Fred went to ground and remonstrated to the ref, but that's modern football for you. I could write reams on how players are more interested now in forcing the referee into a penalty decision than trying to play on, and I'm already plenty tired of the conspiracy theories but my opinion on either really won't change anyone's mind. It happened, and it will happen again throughout this tournament, to lots of teams. I would have been okay with the penalty call, but also a caution to Fred for embellishment...but that's never going to happen ever. Before things get whacky, there were some pretty rash challenges on Neymar and others that went unpunished too, so let's just say the referee didn't have a great match.
And in that vein, I have my second negative. I for one have had pretty much enough of this 'gang confrontation' approach to disputing referee decisions. I vaguely recall FIFA putting together a campaign to stamp that sort of nonsense out. Six large Croatian men sprinting towards and then berating a referee a matter of inches from his face certainly helps endear the global football image to the world doesn't it. Perhaps if some bookings started popping up from this sort of thing, then it might stop. But then again, that's never going to happen ever either.
I've always been troubled to hear players and fans lament that 'referee decisions changed the outcome of the game' when all the players ever try to do is force the referee into a decision that would change the outcome of the game. Fan hypocrisy on this issue is also maddening...if Modric had gone down so easily to win a penalty I imagine that my Brazilian friends would be livid and my Croatian friends pleased.
I could also opine on this for hours, but then who would bother reading that?
Anyhow, big games today. Mexico just defeated Cameroon, so it looks like some early separation between teams in Group A. I had the text feed going for that game, and once again sounds like some referee controversy over disallowed goals.
At least I'll have more to write on after I see the game on PVR tonight.
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