Wired868 Wired868 for smart sport news and opinion
Brazil got its 2014 World Cup tournament off to a confident start yesterday with an emphatic victory against plucky but limited opponents in Sao Paulo. But enough about the Brazilian police’s bruising triumph against roughly 300 protesters, two CNN journalists and an Associated Press photographer that got too close to the action.
The World Cup is here and so is Mr Live Wire; so buckle up.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Miguel Schincariol)
It was “Dia dos Namorados” yesterday, which is Brazil’s equivalent of Valentine’s Day. And the State celebrated by bringing out its expensive new riot gear to batter demonstrators who were complaining about the gross misuse of taxpayers’ funds on the World Cup. Love hurts; but irony sometimes hurts more.
At the Arena de Sao Paulo, there was a slightly more edifying display of love as 22-year-old wonderkid, Neymar, marked his World Cup debut with two goals, which is twice what Argentine star Lionel Messi managed in two tournaments combined. But then Messi never had the benefit of swooning Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura, who gave a sterling performance for anyone who is either a Brazilian supporter or stands to benefit from the host nation doing well in the competition.
Neymar might have been ejected in the first half, when Brazil trailed 1-0 to a Marcelo own goal, as he mistook Croatia playmaker Luka Modric for a protester and flattened him with a chop to the jaw. Nishimura produced a caution rather than a red card.
Nishimura mistakenly gave him a penalty instead.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Adrian Dennis)
And, in the second half, Fred flopped on his back so casually inside the penalty area that the Woodbrook police might have charged him with soliciting. Nishimura awarded a penalty instead, which Neymar converted for the game’s decisive goal.
On either side of that debatable penalty were precise finishes from Neymar and Oscar past Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa who looked as though he was standing in cement at the time.
It was a bitter blow for the defiant Croatians and tireless 34-year-old attacker Ivica Olic who spent so much time screaming at his teammates that even Gerald Hadeed covered his ears.
But, at the final whistle, Brazil had managed a 3-1 triumph and an awkward assignment and stuttering performance seemed to bear the mark of a job well done. Somewhere in Sao Paulo, a few hundred riot police must have raised their glasses.
It was a good day for the establishment.
“[…] Brazil’s substitutions were difficult to understand. Against Croatia’s compact block, surely the penetration of Gabriel Martinelli could have been Read more
“Three people have silenced the Maracanã,” Uruguay’s right-winger Alcides Ghiggia boasts to a BBC interviewer, “Frank Sinatra, the Pope and Read more
As the business end of 1974 World Cup loomed, for the sentimentalists, the field of title contenders still included Brazil. Read more
“World Cup isn’t relevant anymore,” a 30-year-old sports editor colleague told me a few years ago. “[Uefa] Champions League is Read more
“Teams that couldn’t adjust defensively and show patience and discipline to withstand those spells [of possession from opponents] found themselves Read more
Compelling, crazy, comic, controversial… France are now the World Cup champions and the greatest international team on the planet, after Read more
And alyuh see how the two World Cup winning coaches are working together eh. How can we not win the World Cup for the 6 th time ent If Everad Gally Cummings wasn’t blacklisted eh, after 1989 eh, and he then was allowed to continue to coach until becoming the Technical Director of our sweet country eh today along with meh foreign base Trini Coach Stephen Hart our Soca Warriors wudda be a force to be reckoned with. Jack Warner and them was really good yes. VIVA Brazil.
Lasana, I can’t defend Neymar’s elbow but the ref didn’t call it. (shrug)
Sim that is not funny nah I am dead serious.
And l don’t know what Mr Live Wire is talking about nah, the Croatian player ran into the path of Neymar”s elbow yes and the referee called the foul on him ent.Them really good yes.
Earl that was too funny.
Hahahahaha all I know is when I am finally next to meh father God in heaven eh and he puts meh crown on my head and say job well done my faithful servant eh I want my coffin to be drapped with two flags eh my sweet country and my second sweetest country the greatest team ever in the universe just like what was done with meh player Akeem Adams.VIVA Brazil.
Where yuh Ignacio? Pull out that FIFA handbook again and tell us if Neymar would have played in any more games in this first round. 😉
Brazil would have been down a goal and with 10 men on the field and their best attacker off of it.
Imagine if a Croatian defender had glanced over his shoulder to see where Neymar was and then raised his hands and let him have it. All now Neymar would still be rolling and the Brazil medical staff would be pretended to be performing surgery right on the field! Haha
That Fred sure is a delicate flower eh? Yes, the defender man handled Fred in the box. And poor Neymar wasn’t himself when he clocked Modric with a forearm.
“Them good yes”
The Referee made the right call. Holding an opponent
Holding an opponent includes the act of preventing him from moving past or around using the hands, the arms or the body.
Referees are reminded to make an early intervention and to deal
firmly with holding offenses especially inside the penalty area at corner kicks and free kicks.
To deal with these situations:
• the referee must warn any player holding an opponent before the ball is in play
• caution the player if the holding continues before the ball is in play
• award a direct free kick or penalty kick and caution the player if it happens once the ball is in play
If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty area and continues holding him inside the penalty area, the referee must award a penalty kick.
Disciplinary sanctions
• A caution for unsporting behavior must be issued when a player holds
an opponent to prevent him gaining possession of the ball or taking up an
advantageous position
• A player must be sent off if he denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity
by holding an opponent
• No further disciplinary action must be taken in other situations of holding
an opponent
Restart of play
• Direct free kick from the position where the offense occurred (see Law 13
– Position of free kick) or a penalty kick if the offense occurred inside the
penalty area
Ah only hope that the fella from our soca worries team who wears the captain arm band learnt how a goal should be scored with the toes in my greatest football sweet country in the World we call it a ,,,”-Toe Punch” Oscar is ah really play maker/goalscorer yes VIVA Brazil.
Philip Ignacio SC thanks a million! Now we have written proof that Referee Yuichi Nishimura made the right call.
LAW 12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent
tackles an opponent
A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three offences:
holds an opponent
spits at an opponent
handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick). Penalty kick
A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.
Prince, they playin’ dey doh know. haha! Dey just shocked that the ref called it!
We all were taught when yuh get touch in de box go down.
Tell dem, Prince! De man put his hand on Fred IN THE PENALTY BOX. Talk done right dey. Point to de spot, ref!
David Aguillera, my point is dat referees make decisions in different leagues across d globe differently but FIFA rules are constant
De man put his hand on Fred
I agree its a foul, he blew for it now everybody saying he favoured Brasil
Arthlon, you say it was a foul but don’t blow for that? How could he NOT blow? IT WAS A FOUL.
hey lets go easy on d ref, if u analyze it carefully it was a foul but common sense will tell u, u don’t blow for dat, becoz we see ppl getting pull down in the BPL we saying the ref tief, those refs in BPL on shit. How many english refs in d wc???
That’s the last goal Brazil gives up in the group stage. I hope we finish with 7 points in the group. It’s hard to win a World Cup unblemished
Judging from the first game, I don’t think any team will get away with enthusiastically trying to get the ball off Brazil let alone fouling them.
It is Cameroon who should be nervous about their own physical play not Brazil.
Is it just me or the turf was too slick! Men mis trapping the ball and thing. The game was sloppy. Both teams slipping and sliding
Earl Mango Pierre imagine ah have a partner that wants to allow refs to go check replay to change the call. Nah boi! Croatia would have never scored.
i wont doubt that the ref did give the game!!! to brasil.. seeing that most of the team has floppers or divers>>yes neymar im looking at u!!!! just be glad brasil scrap to make it tru with the help of the ref!! when they meet the big dogs it eh go be so nice!!
…Forget the Referee..Gustavo…Marcelo…Dani Alves…Paulinho did well…but against Cameroon..that is a different proposition…Cameroon are physical…very physical….while David Luis is till shaky and Cameroon’s defence will swallow Fred…Hulk and Neymar have the pace and skill to get away…but they will be fouled regularly…so it will be interesting to see how Brazil fare when they face the Africans
It is more a snap shot than an analysis Amery Browne. As for Marcelo, I’m happy to let sleeping dogs lie. Carry on as you were Marcelo. 🙂
I really don’t understand this thing eh, all I am hearing is that the referee gave that game to the greatest team in the universe eh and Croatia didn’t even score a goal Them really good yes.
….You better hope they improve as the tournament continues..otherwise they wouldn’t have far to go…they already home lol lol
All.the haters alyuh talk nah. Hahahahahaha VIVA Brazil
The Japanese referee has set the tone for the rest of the tournament: NO HOLDING IN THE PENALTY BOX! All comers take heed.
Oh, haters, why all the fuss about a penalty? Croatia did not score. Not even once! That was their loss, literally.
Hahahahaah doh hut up alyuh heads nah when meh greatest team in the universe meets an African team in the finals eh it will be.the same referee
…GM Prince…but i only agree with 1 of those scores…Holland-2…Spain-1…..and as for your team Brazil….i hope they do well….as for that Referee….i hope that doesn’t set the tone for how the Officials are going to be going about their job!!!…because he had a horrible game
Here’s my predictions today Mexico 2 Cameroon 1. Holland 2 Spain 1 Costa struggles again if he plays. Chile 3 Australia 0
We win!
Brazil has to remember that karma is a bitch. That goes to both the team, and the country.
I’m getting ready to see Messi throw up at this game Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Don’t put your hands on my strikers in the penalty box. Hahahahaha
Well said, Brazil were very lucky in this match, they wouldn’t be so lucky when they face a stronger opposition (unless if they score first and the other teams has to chase, because Brazil is devastating when they are on the counter attack) however the rioters do have a point, spending billions to hold a world cup instead of taking proper care of your citizens should be a crime, I really do feel for them 🙁 and of course the referee was abysmal in his performance
Hmm. I’d have to agree with Amery here..no mention whatsoever of Oscar’s deserved Man of the Match performance…Clearly written by an Argentine! lol Imagine Brazil played Croatia and the man still find room to mention Messi !! SMH! Mango I with you boy!!! lol
Messi is the reference point for futbol! 🙂
This sums it up. I thought Oscar deserves a mention for at least showing some quality on the pitch…and our friend Marcello for not.
Lol. Rush in Mango!
Lol get the popcorn ready