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The wait is over. The FIFA World Cup is finally here. Brazil have got their campaign off to a winning start but not before overcoming a few jitters on the way. Croatia took the lead through a Marcelo own goal, but two goals from Neymar and a late third from Oscar sent the fans home from the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo happy. Here’s our look at how each player fared.
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Brazil
Julio Cesar: 6.5/10
Cesar wasn’t called on much, as Croatia preferred to sit back and absorb all Brazilian pressure. But, on the few occasions that he was tested, cesar responded magnificently. His highlight of the day was a good low save from a rasping drive by Ivan Perisic.
Dani Alves: 7/10
Alves was a constant threat down the right flank, with his pace and poise on the ball providing plenty of problems for Sime Vrsaljko. He always provided an outlet for the midfielders to spray the ball to, and was tireless in his work.
Thiago Silva: 6/10
Silva was solid, if unspectacular. His job is to command his troops, bellow out orders for the defenders to follow, and see off any threat to the goal. Silva did all that was asked of him in a very unassuming manner.
David Luiz: 7/10
Luiz was more in the thick of the action than his defensive partner, Luiz made a few crucial blocks and interceptions, and overall, complemented Silva brilliantly. Luiz could have had a goal for himself also, but that was a tough header to execute.
Paulinho: 7/10
Paulinho was his usual self. Brimming with energy, he was always ready to run the channels, and stretch the Croatian defense. Had a good chance in the first half, but was denied by a good save from Stipe Pletikosa.
Luiz Gustavo: 6.5/10
Gustavo, like Thiago Silva was unspectacular, but did the job that was asked from him. It was Gustavo’s dirty work in midifield that prevented Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic from dictating the pace of the game. It also meant that the likes of Oscar and Neymar could flourish.
Hulk: 3/10
Very poor from the Zenit St. Petersburg man. He gave the ball away far too easily, and was never involved in any of Brazil’s flowing attacking moves. It seemed as if the occasion got the better of him, and stifled his ability.
Oscar: 9.5/10 – Man of the Match
Brilliant from the baby-faced assassin. He was a constant thorn in Croatia’s flesh, and never let the Croats breathe easy. His pressing, dribbling, crossing, all were brilliant, and at times, it seemed as though he was the Seleccao’s only attacking outlet. Completely deserved his goal.
Neymar: 8/10
Neymar could consider himself lucky to stay on the pitch, after the referee deemed that an elbow to the face of Modric warranted only a Yellow Card. But, once that was out of the way, Neymar was terrific. He got himself two goals – albeit one a penalty, which struck the goalkeeper’s palms on the way. Brazil’s new hero has got things rolling nicely.
Fred: 4/10
Fred was highly immobile, and didn’t do as much running as the creativity of Neymar and Oscar asked of him. A more mobile striker would have got into better positions, and with the number of balls that were put into the box, that could have led to a few more goals.
Substitutes:
Hernanes: 5/10
Came on for Paulinho when the scores were level at 1-1, but looked largely uninspiring. Hernanes could not provide the thrust that Paulinho was able to.
Bernard: 6/10
Little Bernard looked sprightly and up for the occasion, using his pace to make himself a nuisance to the Croatian defenders. His enthusiasm could be vital in such cameos in future matches.
Ramires: N/A
Came on too late to make any sort of impression.
Croatia:
Stipe Pletikosa: 6/10
Pletikosa had a mixed outing between the sticks. Some would feel that he could have made a better effort to save Neymar’s shot in the first half that led to Brazil’s equalizer. But, prior to that, he amde an absolutely stunning save off an Oscar shot. Got his palms on the penalty, but could not get required contact.
Darijo Srna: 6/10
Defensively, Srna had a rather easy outing, as he was faced by Hulk on his flank for large periods of time. But, becuase Croatia sat so deep, he could not offer much in an attacking sense. Kept out the threat of an overlapping Marcelo as well.
Vedran Corluka: 5.5/10
Corluka sometimes struggled to come to terms with the pace of the Brazilian attacks, and because of that gave away some needless free kicks.
Dejan Lovren: 6/10
In the first half, Lovren won everything in the air, and repelled everything that was thrown at him. However in the second half, he was guilty of conceding the penalty that led to Brazil’s second goal. But, the legitimacy of the penalty will be debated long and hard.
Sime Vrsaljko: 5/10
Like Srna, Vrsaljko was also unable to offer much in an attacking sense. Defensively too, Vrsaljko needs to tighten up. There were way too many crosses that came in from Vrsaljko’s flank, and he should have done much more to try and stop Oscar and co.
Ivan Rakitic: 5/10
By his own high standards, Rakitic had a poor game. He was unable to come to terms with the pace of the Brazilian attack, and was unable to control the tempo of the game. If Croatia are to progress further in this tournament, they will need better performances from Rakitic for sure.
Luka Modric: 6/10
Modric tried to drive Croatia forward, but was unsuccessful, largely because most of theovaci Croatians were intent on defending. The Modric we saw today was far off the Modric that we’ve been used to seeing play for Real Madrid, though.
Mateo Kovacic: 5.5/10
Kovacic was largely anonymous. But, he did put in a defensive shift, and ensured that Croatia made things hard for Brazil in the first half.
Ivan Perisic: 6.5/10
Perisic had a good game down Croatia’s right. He was terrific while tracking back to contain Marcelo’s attacking runs as well, and put in some dangerous crosses which were dealt with by the Brazilians.
Ivica Olic: 7.5/10
Olic was Croatia’s best player on the pitch. he played like the Olic we all know. Hard-working, honest and a nuisance for defenders to deal wit. He put in the cross which led to Croatia’s first goal, and other dangerous balls as well, which Nikica Jelavic could not get on the end of.
Nikica Jelavic: 2/10 – Flop of the Match
Jelavic was poor in every aspect of his play. Right from his hold up play, to his passing, to his off-the-ball-movement, Jelavic had a complete off day. Croatia were hit hard by the absence of the suspended Mario Mandzukic.
Substitutes:
Marcelo Brozovic: 5/10
Brozovic put in his effort, after coming on to replace Kovacic, but there were too many lose touches, and lose passes. Had one glorious opportunity, that was brilliantly blocked by David Luiz.
Ante Rebic: N/A
Rebic did not make any sort of impact on proceedings.
