2014 FIFA World Cup - BRAZIL VS CROATIA (Group A First Match) Highlights

Highlights of the opening match of 2014 FIFA World Cup Group A (BRAZIL VS CROATIA):

Before the match kicks off below are the following line up per team:

On the first half, PERISIC (Croatia) challenges MARCELO (Brazil) which then turned unable to stop his feet landing the ball back to their giving Croatia the lead.

Dissatisfied Brazil fans were disappointed on the first outcome but Brazil did not waiver and push to get their equaliser.

Before the first half ends, NEYMAR JR (Brazil) was able to notch Brazil's equiliser putting the score board from 1:1.

It has been 10 minutes after the start of the second half and substitutions happened  first called from Croatia's coach Nico Kovac: BROZOVIĆ (in) comes off the bench to replace KOVAČIĆ (out) (Croatia)

Which was followed another substitution by Brazil's coach Luiz Felipe Scolari shortly, a suit by bringing HERNANES, who is likelier to get into the attack than PAULINHO: HERNANES (in) comes off the bench to replace PAULINHO (out) (Brazil)

CORLUKA (Croatia) is cautioned booking Croatia after clearing out NEYMAR in the middle of the park. It was not the first Brazil No. 10 has been brought down aggressively. DANI ALVES (Brazil) sees an effort go off target. Another substitution was made Coach Felipe Scolari electing HULK from the field in replacement of pacy Bernard: BERNARD (in) comes off the bench to replace HULK (out) (Brazil).

LOVREN (Croatia) was yellow carded after FRED (Brazil) was fouled inside the box. Nishimura called penalty and points straight away to the spot after Fred was taken down in the area by Lovren. Neymar then takes a stutter-step approach and shoots to Pletikosa's right, a successful conversion of penalty by NEYMAR JR (Brazil) giving him his 2nd goal for today's game putting the hosts up 2-1.

Another substitution by Croatia was made: REBIĆ (in) comes off the bench to replace JELAVIĆ (out) (Croatia).

Croatia were on the doorstep of Brazil's goal and initially looked to have scored but OLIC (Croatia) fouled Julio Cesar and the referee rightly stopped play. LOVREN (Croatia) was penalized after committing a foul while MODRIC (Croatia) sees his effort to hit the target which was pulls of save by JULIO CESAR (Brazil). REBIC (Croatia) was penalized after committing a foul and so as L GUSTAVO (Brazil) which booked him by the referee. 

Brazil called for a their last substitution taking off their hero in strengthening their defense: RAMIRES (in) comes off the bench to replace NEYMAR JR (out) (Brazil)

CORLUKA (Croatia) sees an effort go off target. PERISIC (Croatia) sees his effort hit the target and JULIO CESAR (Brazil) pulls off a save. BROZOVIC (Croatia) send an effort hit the target and a great block was made by DAVID LUIZ (Brazil) with a massive stop to prevent Croatia's equalizer.

OSCAR (Brazil) weaved his way through the Croatian backline and fires a low strike from long range, catching Pleticosa off-guard. A brilliantly placed finish puts the game all but out of reach for the Europeans. Oscar gave an emotional heart-shaped hand gesture to the crowd.

In the end the hosts were too strong for Niko Kovac's Croatia, though their early lead off of Marcelo's own goal definitely had the crowd in Arena de Sao Pualo worried.

Stay tuned for the next match which will happened tomorrow:

Second Half of 2014 FIFA World Cup Opening Match Brazil VS Croatia

Before we kick off the second half of the opening match between Brazil and Croatia.

The second half is under way, the Brazilians resuming activity.

VRSALJKO (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on OSCAR (Brazil).

Brazil have been camped in Croatia's final third in search of a second goal, but Pletikosa's backline has held up well so far.

PAULINHO (Brazil) is penalised after committing a foul.

OLIĆ (Croatia) illegally handles the ball.

VRSALJKO (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on OSCAR (Brazil).

PERIŠIĆ (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

Ten minutes into the second half and Croatia are still struggling to get out of their half. The crowd are sensing a goal from the hosts, but nothing doing so far.

PERIŠIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

SRNA (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on MARCELO (Brazil).

Croatia coach Niko Kovac has made the game's first change and it's a one-for-one swap in the midfield.

BROZOVIĆ (in) comes off the bench to replace KOVAČIĆ (out) (Croatia)

L GUSTAVO (Brazil) commits a foul.

Luiz Felipe Scolari follows suit shortly thereafter with his first change by bringing on Hernanes, who is likelier to get into the attack than Paulinho.

HERNANES (in) comes off the bench to replace PAULINHO (out) (Brazil)

JELAVIĆ (Croatia) is penalised after committing a foul.

BROZOVIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

CORLUKA (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on NEYMAR JR (Brazil).

The Croatian is booked after clearing out Neymar in the middle of the park. That's certainly not the first time the Brazil No10 has been brought down aggressively.

CORLUKA (Croatia) is cautioned.

The Brazil No2 had plenty of pace behind his free-kick but it was never looking to surprise Pletikosa, who was happy to watch the ball sail high.

DANI ALVES (Brazil) sees an effort go off target.

That's Brazil's second subtitution tonight, Scolari electing to bring on the pacy Bernard in place of Hulk.

BERNARD (in) comes off the bench to replace HULK (out) (Brazil)

OLIĆ (Croatia) is penalised after committing a foul.

FRED (Brazil) is fouled inside the box by LOVREN (Croatia).

LOVREN (Croatia) is yellow carded.

Penalty! Nishimura points straight away to the spot after Fred was taken down in the area by Lovren.

Neymar places the ball on spot, looking to score his second of the game.

Neymar takes a stutter-step approach and shoots to Pletikosa's right. The Croatian keeper managed to get a hand on, causing a gasp from the crowd, but the No10's shot was too powerful and found its way into the goal.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) successfully converts the penalty!

Croatia come storming back after the restart and David Luiz is forced to clear for a corner.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) takes a corner kick.

LOVREN (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

OSCAR (Brazil) commits a foul.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) swings in the corner.

DAVID LUIZ (Brazil) sees an effort go off target.

REBIĆ (in) comes off the bench to replace JELAVIĆ (out) (Croatia)

BERNARD (Brazil) takes a corner kick.

OLIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) swings in the corner.

LOVREN (Croatia) is penalised after committing a foul.

Croatia were on the doorstep of Brazil's goal and initially looked to have scored, but Olic fouled Julio Cesar and the referee rightly stopped play.

MODRIĆ (Croatia) sees his effort hit the target.

JULIO CESAR (Brazil) pulls off a save

REBIĆ (Croatia) is penalised after committing a foul.

L GUSTAVO (Brazil) commits a foul.

L GUSTAVO (Brazil) is booked by the referee.

Scolari makes his last substitution of the night, taking off the hosts' hero and brining on Ramires in a defensive-minded change. The entire Arena de Sao Paulo are on their feeting applauding Neymar after his two-goal performance.

RAMIRES (in) comes off the bench to replace NEYMAR JR (out) (Brazil)

CORLUKA (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

PERIŠIĆ (Croatia) sees his effort hit the target.

JULIO CESAR (Brazil) pulls off a save.

BROZOVIĆ (Croatia) sees his effort hit the target.

David Luiz comes up with a massive stop to prevent Croatia's equaliser!

DAVID LUIZ (Brazil) pulls off a save.

Oscar weaves his way through the Croatian backline and fires a low stirke from long range, catching Pletikosa off-guard. A brilliantly placed finish puts the game all but out of reach for the Europeans.

OSCAR (Brazil) Scores!!

After scoring a clincher for Brazil, an emotional shot of Oscar posing a heart shape hand to the crowd.

BROZOVIĆ (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

The final whistle sounds.

First Half of 2014 FIFA World Cup Opening Match Brazil VS Croatia

The man who was assigned to referee the opening match of 2014 FIFA World Cup is Japan’s Yuichi Nishimura and was assisted by Toru Sagara and Toshiyuki Nagi, having designated fourth official from Iran, Alireza Faghani.

The captains meet at midfield and shake hands with Yuichi Nishimura and his officiating crew.

The decibel level reaches an incredible high as the crowd anticipate kick-off. The Estadio de Sao Paulo is ready. The world is ready. And Croatia will get us under way.

KOVAČIĆ (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

CORLUKA (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on HULK (Brazil).

DAVID LUIZ (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

PLETIKOSA (Croatia) pulls off a save.

OLIĆ (Croatia) sees an effort go off target.

PERIŠIĆ (Croatia) is penalised after committing a foul.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

PAULINHO (Brazil) sees an effort go off target.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) swings in the corner.

MARCELO (Brazil) scores an own goal!!

Olic breaks down the Croatia left and is not closed down. He hits a low cross towards goal which is flicked on by Nikica Jelavic at the front post, Marcelo cannot stop his feet in time and it ends up in the back of the net.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

CORLUKA (Croatia) pulls off a save.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) swings in the corner.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) takes a corner kick.

PAULINHO (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

Paulinho's shot stings the hands of Pletikosa but fortunately for the Croatia keeper it was right at him.

PLETIKOSA (Croatia) pulls off a save.

OSCAR (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

What a save! After Neymar dribbles past Rakitic, the ball is cleared out but only as far as Oscar who takes a shot from long range. Pletikosa is well up to the task though.

PLETIKOSA (Croatia) pulls off a save.

HULK (Brazil) sees an effort go off target.

PERIŠIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on MODRIĆ (Croatia).

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) is cautioned.

The crowd are trying to get Brazil going here in Sao Paulo, raising the noise level every few minutes when the hosts have the ball in the Croatia half.

JELAVIĆ (Croatia) sees his effort hit the target.

JULIO CESAR (Brazil) pulls off a save.

Neymar breaks free of the Croatian defenders, leaving them in his wake before setting himself and shooting across Pletikosa with his left foot, the ball nestles in the bottom corner, off the post.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) scores!!

This tie up 1:1 MARCELO (Brazil) scored for Croatia and NEYMAR JR (Brazil) goal came in 29^th minute and was from close range. A Seleção surround Neymar after notching the equalizer.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) swings in the corner.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) swings in the corner.

SRNA (Croatia) commits a foul.

DANI ALVES (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

VRSALJKO (Croatia) pulls off a save.

Croatia have been putting in some tough challenges all night, particularly on the goalscorer Neymar.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) commits a foul.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) sees his effort hit the target.

RAKITIĆ (Croatia) pulls off a save.

NEYMAR JR (Brazil) swings in the corner.i

Brazil breaking fast on the counter-attack

LOVREN (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on FRED (Brazil).

Neymar dribbles at the defence with pace yet again, the ball comes back to Hulk who shoots but misses high and wide

HULK (Brazil) sees an effort go off target.

JELAVIĆ (Croatia) concedes a free-kick following a challenge on L GUSTAVO (Brazil).

Yuichi Nishimura brought first half to an end.