The Japanese refree has been good in first half, but suddently made mistakes only against one side until the 3rd goal. Well, fixing an oppener game can look impossible in our innocent eyes but here is the facts :

• Fifa are in big troubles lately, the pressure of media on them made their reputation fall, and World Cup in Brazil is the best moment for them to make the world forget a little what hapened lately.

• Brazilians lower classes protestations against World cup were divided between Football fanatics happy to host the competition despite the misery, and those who think they should get a proper education and health before hosting anything, with a Brazilian elemination from the group stage, even midle classes could go out in the streets and this could ruin the World cup.

• Football in Brazil is a religion and being eleminated from group stages would kill the joy of the hosts and let them concentrating in protesting in a time all the World is watching them.

• Blatter intervention in voting dates lately at Ballon D' Or award ( After Sweden-Portugal ) showed how far could Blatter go to repair a mistake ( treated Ronaldo as a commandant ) and caused the anger of Cr7 and his millions of fans.

So yes, i believe nobody in Brazil government or Fifa would love to see a defeat or a draw in the first game, what is more strange imo is the way the ref handled the first half, absolutely wise and accurate.

So what happened at half time, to let him become the joke we watched in the second half ?

Here are the controversial actions only against one side :

The scandalous dive : I saw i was a dive from the first action without any replay.

• Disalowed goal : First Rakitic was fouled in a good positon near the box, the ref was going to whistle then he decided to give the advantage while the ball moved near the corner ( non sense ) then the player crossed to Olic and you know the end, a refused goal.

Even after the dive and the disallowed goal, Croatia kept fighting at 2-1 and got 2 more odd decisions against them.
2 fouls whistled for Brasil who were originally Brasils fault, one of them is Lovren foul while it was an obstruction for Croatia and a foul near Brazils corner.

And this is my favourite controversial moment, after the disallowed goal the ref was whistling in only one side until this, no comment.

Oscar took the ball and you know the end.

At 3-1 the ref became the ref of first half whistling some useless FK ( 3-1 already ) at the end of the game and gave Gustavo a yellow.

A perfect remake of Spain-South Korea 2002, i feel sorry for Croatian players and fans, credit to them to keep fighting after the PK.

Nobody has the truth, and conspiracies look odd in innocent minds, but WE Football fans are getting fooled by politics even in our World cup games, the ref of the first half isnt the same ref of the second half, its impossible to have such a different refreing level before and after half time, its about 5 or 6 decisions but it was enough to decide the game and to give Brazil big chances to pass the group stages.

I dont think they will get other controversial actions on their side, but this, just this ruined competition in this group, i feel sad for Croatia and i hope they could have a second chance.
Brazil must finish first to avoid the first of group B probably Spain, so this game was a must win...

Really mixed feelings, bad taste at the end : Entertaining first half, fixed second half.
I also saw a comment of wolfie in the Highlights about this and got my +1, he just had the same feeling wich increased mine, im not the only fool having some doubts and its completely possible in this sad world, where few people thinks they are gods and influence everything in our life even sports results.

At least, it happened at an early stage, i believe Brazil used their Joker, another help could be risky buisness for them, a second help could be suspicious as hell so i dont think an intervention like this at half time would happen another time.

What is your thoughts ? Match fixing or Paranoia ?

Totally agree with this one. Regarding Korea, Italy - Korea was a disgrace too. The most contentious decisions were an early penalty awarded to South Korea, a golden goal by Tommasi ruled offside for some reason, and a second yellow card shown to Totti for an alleged dive.

This is what happened to the Korea - Italy referee:

After the 2002 World CupIn September 2002, Moreno, while a candidate in October elections for places on the Quito city council, was suspended for twenty matches[5] and investigated by Ecuadorian football authorities and FIFA[6] after a match he officiated between Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito and Barcelona Sporting Club from Guayaquil. With Liga de Quito trailing 3–2 at the end of the match, Moreno signalled six minutes of injury time, then allowed play to continue for thirteen minutes, during which Liga de Quito scored an equaliser in the 99th minute, then won the game in the 101st minute. Moreno was also accused of falsifying the minutes in which Liga de Quito scored their equalising and winning goals in his official match report.In May 2003, in his third game back from his suspension, Moreno was again suspended, for one match, after he sent off three players from visiting Deportivo Quito in a 1–1 draw at Deportivo Cuenca.[7] He retired the following month, blaming low performance marks for his retirement. Even after all this, he is still regarded as one of the worst referees to have ever been in the World Cup.[8][not in citation given]Criminal records.

Moreno was arrested on September 21, 2010 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, while trying to smuggle in six kilograms (over ten pounds) of heroin, which was hidden in his underwear.[9] In January 2011, he pled guilty to the charges in a New York courthouse, facing a possible ten years in prison.[10] On September 23, 2011 Moreno was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on the heroin smuggling charges.[11] He was released from prison 26 months later and returned to Ecuador.

And of course the worst one. Spain - Korea. There are mad videos about that game and so many disallowed goals that I lost count.

I completely agree that the non european referees are used as scapegoats to match-fixing cos we all know that the European referee wouldnt do that at that extend.

I think its a little more on the Paranoia side. I agree it was terrible refereeing but it doesn't mean just because they host the WC it has to be all an arrangement. He is not even a world class referee or a very known one, he can be just a terrible referee chosen for this match. We'll see what happens later. If this gets repeated and if there is controversy regarding decisions in favour of Brazil again, then we can start speculating.

Ehh I don't think it was a fix . Referee may have favored Brazil because those decisions were difficult and under pressure in the stadium where so many Brazilian fans cheering . Inexperience played the part .

I thought Fred slipped , but did not dive .

Olic did push Cesar but then Cesar was very sloppy too . So 50 /50 decision .

And Ramires tackle was 50/50 as well , he did play the ball . Those pictures are not showing from good angle .

That idiot Fred dived and cried, the croatian player barely touched him, and yet that stupid referee gives up a penalty. What is that? Fair sport? Kidding me? And it was not even his first mistake.

About the match fixing, I don't think it was one, but Brazil is a terribly corrupted country, though.

Not a fix

-I did initially think Fred dived but the replays showed Lovren had his hand around Fred's Shoulder.

-Cesar-Olic clash should have been played on with, but Croatia didn't score anyway.

-Not the worst referee but a better choice could have been made.

I would also like to say how awesome Oscar was today. He assisted Neymar, assisted the penalty, and scored. Great all round play, especially his crosses.

a fixed WC might be nothing new, it happened already in '66*, '74*, '78 and 2002. there are also documents talking about 2006 (Brazil sold to France) and other editions. but in all this, did you notice who launched the frontal attack to Blatter? the english press, or more simply: England. perhaps they're tired of not winning at international level and they'd gladly see a shift in the power balances? who knows, but it's surely something worth a deeper look. about this match Brazil VS Croatia, it's a blatant fact that some poor decisions were made by the referee, and those decisions influenced the outcoming result of the opening match.

it's too soon to talk about WC fixing, i think we will not see other fishy stuff in Brazil's favour during the group stages; if there was a bonus, they've used it. we'll see in the knockout stages what will happen, if there's a plan, it will be revealed in that phase of the tournament.

*source: Joao Havelange

edit: interesting articles

• http://www.motherjones.com/media/2014/06/fifa-world-cup-scandals-brazil-qatar
• http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/78997916/history-of-match-fixing-at-fifa-world-cup-brazil-england-germany-argentina

Everyone has already said what I wanted to say. it's freakin horrible, and match-fixing or not, this kind of "home-team" influential NEED TO STOP. It ruined the first game and it is destroying our fate in Fifa.

Reminded me of 2002. Even if it wasn't fixed, the incompetence was staggering.

I don't think it's fixing, it's just the referee cracking under the pressure. I was talking to my friend during the game, just before the penaly call, saying that he was having a really good game. And then Fred dives, the public goes nuts, the occasion is too big, Brazil on their home soil on the opening game when if they lose the country bursts into flames, poor referee got caught in no man's land. Still poor refereeing but I don't think it was fixed

If it happens again in the upcoming game(s) then I'll start considering match fixing.

I am very sad.

But I'm not going to be blaming Brazil for the incompetent referee. It's just too easy to say "fixed match." I think that the ref was just plain horrible.

I hope that Croatia can grab 6 points against Cameroon and Mexico. These are the main matches that CRO needs to focus on.

if its bought, it has happened before...
ok i wouldnt go so far as to say it is bought just yet, it has only been 1 game and just maybe its the reff thats bad..

Poor Croatia, I hope you can win your next matches.

@Mainzfeldski The way Croatia played, and the way Brazil played, I can say two things :

1. Croatia are really good and even after yesterday have a good shot at getting through to the KO stages

2. If Brazil play like they did yesterday, and refs are fair, there is NO WAY they win this world cup, because they were mediocre. I can think of at least 5 teams I have watched this year that have played better football. They could have lost this game. Hulk and Fred were invisible, and Paulinho/Gustavo have 0 creativity together. I got tricked into thinking they were amazing by all the hype surrounding them, but I was very disappointed. If you ignore the hype and look at their squad with objective eyes, it's not that impressive. And even their defense that individually is great looked shaky yesterday. They have one asset in attack, Neymar, and one guy that can create in Oscar. That's about it. Hulk and Fred were invisible, Paulinho/gustavo offered no creativity. Let's see if scolari changes things for their next game but I really expect some changes especially in the double pivot in midfield.

@ KingHenry

Thanks for the support, I agree with everything you said.

Oscar was fantastic, and it's still scary to see that Neymar can create his own chance out of nothing, like in the first goal against CRO.

What I don't understand is: how did Brazil seem to play so well in the Confederations Cup? I didn't watch the tournament, so I have no clue how Brazil did; however, I'm sure that there weren't too many controversies when they played, right?

Fred is a target man but an excellent one too, from what I saw in the previous games. In the friendly against Serbia, Fred was largely invisible but one simple error from the defense, and Fred was on the scoresheet. This is also the same case with the majority of Croatian strikers, like Jelavic in yesterday's game and Mandzukic (who will definitely play in the last 2 games of the Group Stage). When Fred is sapped off from support from the Brazilian midfield, it will be difficult for him to score goals (again, just like Jelavic/Mandzukic).

I was especially scared with Hulk on the field, but you're right, he was no serious threat.

Croatia wasn't "parking the bus," but rather they were hoping to pressure the Brazilian defense with Olic (who never stops running) and Jelavic. Even Kovac himself said that the Croats weren't going to park the bus, since Croatia has no defensive capability nor the mentality to defend for long periods of time.

Regardless, Brazil remains a threat, and the fact that Croatia showed its teeth was enough to make me hopeful for the rest of the tourny.

I dont think Brazil would stay at this same level further in the world cup, they will improve. Otherwise, no way.

Btw, why on earth of all freakin choices: Paulinho started ahead of Fernadinho???? I dont get it. That's why Brazil looked mediocre.

@tuan I think Hernanes and Bernard both looked good when they came on. They at least did something, not like Hulk. But that's maybe because Croatia had to attack so they had more space to work with. I agree about fernandinho, Paulinho+Gustavo is way too safe.

finally...we stopped feeding/buying the media hype around the referee. Let's focus on the game...
Brazil was garbage...started the game with no energy and not until the own goal did they snap into it.

The fact that Neymar and Oscar had to drop back between the centerbacks and the center mids to receive the ball says all i need to say about this current group.

Brazil relies way too much on Marcelo and Alves to get the attacks started. Which is why they get beat/out of position on the counters. Like others have started Fernandinho should start and Willian should definitely start over Hulk. Hulk only offers a powerful shot from distance. He can't create, nor is he agile enough to get to routine chances.

Believe me, other teams will see this.
Scolari is putting his hope on Oscar, Neymar for goals. if teams scheme to take those two out of the game, Brazil is in trouble.

I will say one thing, in the Confed Cup, Brazil was more aggressive defensively, so they could easily counter with those weapons. However, if teams sit back and let them build up, they will be exposed because Alves/Marcelo will be out of position

@mastertice I had totally forgotten about Willian. Put willian instead of Hulk, and Fernandinho instead of Paulinho and all of a sudden the team looks way more threatening and dangerous.

Referinho