Neymar and Oscar Star As Brazil Survive Early Own Goal In World Cup 2014 Opener [Hilights+]

This was a World Cup in just one game with brilliance, calamity and
controversy. And, with it, Brazil had the victory they so desperately craved
and could not possibly have dealt with being deprived; the tournament
exploded into life.

“This is our World Cup,” had been Scolari’s pre-match call and he meant it in
far more than just location. This has to be Brazil’s World Cup, they have to
claim the crown for a sixth time and anything short of that was thinkable;
unspeakable.

 Even the questions aimed at Scolari have been more in search of reassurance as
an attempt at inquisition and the wall of noise, from the walls of yellow
shirts in the stands, that met the Brazil players as they ran on to warm-up
was a release more than an excited greeting.

It was as nothing though to the rendition of the Brazilian national anthem,
extending after the music had finished, which confirmed more than ever that
for Scolari’s players this was more about managing emotion as facing Croatia.

Could Brazil surf that tide? The anxiety quickly grew after a strong run by
Luka Modric, a cross by Ivan Perisic and a header from Ivica Olic which
bounced narrowly wide. If that was a warning it was not heeded. Croatia
broke again, again Olic was involved but this time he crossed low for Nikica
Jelavic to waft his mis-hit shot across goal. The ball was going wide but it
struck Marcelo and then bounced into the net. There was stunned silence.
Marcelo appeared close to tears.

It was the ugliest start possible for Brazil against a team organised and
committed and not without talent and who had quickly found their stride
with, predictably, Modric the co-ordinator. By this time, with darkness
beginning to fall, the floodlights had failed in one quadrant of the
stadium. It felt ominous.

 But those lights slowly started to come back and so did Brazil. A succession
of corners were gained, flashing across the Croatian penalty area before
finally a forceful run by Paulinho forced goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa to beat
out his shot.

The chants of “Brazil” re-emerged and so did Neymar who worked his way down
the right, the ball running out but play waved on for an eventual clearance
to fall to Oscar whose powerful curling shot was superbly pushed away by
Pletikosa.

Neymar’s elbow into Modric’s neck – and he knew what he was doing – earned him
a caution and the anger of the Croatians who angrily but understandably
demanded further punishment. Instead they received it. Neymar scored. The
ball was won by Oscar and ran to the striker who sweetly evaded a scything
challenge and bore down on goal. He cut left and rolled a low shot with
absolute accuracy, if not power, that had the ponderously diving Pletikosa
beaten. The ball kissed a post and crossed the line and the stadium erupted.

 It was Neymar’s 32rd goal for Brazil in what was his 50th appearance – one
behind Ronaldinho at the age of 22! – and it was his most precious strike as
fireworks lit the darkening Sao Paulo sky just as he was beginning to fire
his nation and provide the demanded story-line. He was not felling the
pressure. It was becoming his show as run after run spread panic.

But Croatia will have been happy with their work so far with Hulk and Fred
struggling to make any impact for Brazil who already seemed over-reliant on
Neymar and a re-emerging Oscar whose trickery, aggression and energy had
helped drag his team back into the contest.

The problem for Brazil lay largely in their defensive vulnerability and they
constantly appeared stretched as both full-backs, especially Dani Alves who
failed to deal with Olic, were caught out. Alves was fortunate to escape as
he caught the Croatian as he ran onto one through ball.

By now Croatia were drawing Brazil’s sting and for Scolari’s side the decision
had to made as to whether they would stick or twist.

They appeared spent. But Fred, collecting Oscar’s cross, threw himself to the
ground as Dejan Lovren stood firm. The penalty was appealed for and,
astonishingly, was given by the referee.

The Croatians were, rightly, furious but Neymar, eventually, finally, stepped
up and sent the ball to Pletikosa’s right. The goalkeeper reached it but it
skimmed off his gloves and into the net.

Angered Croatia stirred and then Nishimura erred again – awarding an Olic foul
when he should have played on, as he beat Julio Cesar in the air, and an
equalising goal would have been scored. But that was not in the script and
Oscar ended any doubt by again winning possession and sprinting goal-wards.
Defenders crowded him but he surprised Pletikosa with an early shot.

Watch Highlights Below: