Thetownend.com

Right, I think Matchday threads are more than allowable for a WC.

Ian Wright is channelling his inner Partridge on ITV magnificently, and the opening ceremony was daft in a not even particularly cute kind of way, and had Pitbull. Good god I wish the football would start.

Predictions for the Tournament folks?

Argentina to win, Aguero top scorer for me. England to lose in the Quarters to Spain in a relatively respectable performance.

I enjoy mocking ITV coverage to the point that I'd be disappointed if they ever sorted themselves out.

Brazil to win it outright, Neymar top scorer, England to get knocked out in the quarters by Brazil.

I do agree with that in fairness. Fabio Cannavaro is in danger of landing an unwelcome touch of class at the moment.

Ha ha, good point. Hadn't thought of it like that :)

3-0 Brazil Neymar to get a couple

I've put money on Brazil 4-0 win at 12's and Croatia 1-0 win at 29's.

Right, money going on. Fred to score first, and Luiz Gustavo to get a yellow at 3/1 which is great odds as he's filthy.

Already annoyed by th ITV score caption in the top left!

could the make it a bit bigger?

It's all gone quiet in Brazil...

Not any more.  Fireworks going off all over Sao Paolo after Neymar's goal according to BBC Radio 5.

Typical as he should have has a red for that elbow
Ref bottled that

Yep.  But its different as it cant be a red.  Brazil dont foul.  They just play expressing the joy and beauty of the game.  I know this is true because the media has told me so.

Could be awkward if Nigeria play Germany.

I fucking hate Andy Fucking Townsend.

Nigeria are NGR...It's Niger that cause issues!

It's says BRA. That's good enough for my level of schoolboy humour.

the fucking lyrics for the adverts," Brazil, Brazil" :headhurts:

That's softer than posh bog roll

What a surprise.... a dodgy penalty to Brazil.

never a penalty.

That is fucking disgraceful.  Awful decision.  The brazilians should be embarrased about that.

Has the ref been instructed to help Brasil wherever possible?  Every contentious decision has gone their way.

 :no:

shit save as well!

Happens in every tournament Brazil is in.

Disgusting. Not a penalty, ever. I fucking hate falling over diving cunt footballers.

And of course Neymar should not be still on the pitch....

*Hatred and bigotry alert*

What a load of bollocks. So annoying when countries get homer decisions like that. Never a penalty. Croatia will be kicking themselves, if they lose this, as Brazil were there for the taking.

Ref looks odds on to get his promised envelope full of used $50s tonight.....

Clear penalty. Lovren had his arms all over Fred.

I'm sure Blatter wanted a Brazil win. Croatia never stood a chance.

Fix. Absolute farce.

oh come on, a freekick for, erm, something, cos Croatia could have scored, or something. bullshit.

Looks like Brazil going to be 'helped' all the way then......

That took 80 minutes longer than expected, but winnings collected!

Not exactly an endorsement for top level football so far. Quite a poor game in truth.

Splendid refereeing display.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the competition has in store!

Terrible keeping there from Pletikosa and Tyldsley has splattered his pants.

In fairness that Croatian keeper is absolutely shit. Cost them the game really.

Seems par for the course - the media seem to wank on about Brazil...... Can't wait for the first one to come out with "Only Brazil could have scored that" etc......
Cunts.

I still haven't quite got over GOAL BAFANA BAFANA! from the last world cup. Poor Clive, he means well.

Think that's why I've always never been pro Brazil, because of the way you're almost told you have to like them. Much prefer the Argies style, fight and passion.

Vamos vamos Argentina!

Yep - I'd even cheer on the Argies over Brazil.

Ha ha Chiles is shitting himself there!

I think the ref and the Croatia goalkeeper must both be a bit richer tonight. Brazil players were falling and rolling all over the place. If that was a penalty then some games could end up 6-6.

I think it was Danny Baker about 10 years or so ago, who said you could use the South American football test to see how much someone liked football. You asked them who they liked best in South America. Those who *say* they like football, say Brazil. Those who *think* they like football say Argentina. But those who *know* they like football say Uruguay. Not withstanding Luis Suarez, I think the general principle holds.

I'm also sick of the bloody clichés around Brazil. They were really entertaining in 1982, and Josimar scored a couple of crackers in '86...but that was a long time ago.

Get the ref on our side and we could win it.

Croatia keeper could have saved all 3 of the goals, ref made a number of bad decisions all of which favoured Brazil.

Can't help but wonder if some money changed hands. Sad state of affairs that you'd even think that.

And Brazil were shit. Be disappointed if we didn't beat them if they played like that.

If thats the fifa instructions to referees in this competition - touch someone in the box and its a penalty, then we're in for a load of penalties, but I suspect its reserved for fifa favourites.

Summed up the game well. I've never seen a keeper 'go down' so slowly, almost in instalments!

I don't think I've ever been able to spot a fixed game before, until that one.

Stipe Pletikosa is probably one of the World Cup's most experienced international footballers, he won't look back at that one fondly. His performance wasn't a fixed one though, just poor.

For a widely regarded Champions-elect, Brazil have work to do.

and those who are crazy about football say the Colombia of Higuita, Valderamma (and also Andres Escobar who was tragically murdered on his return home from a disappointing World Cup)

I thought it was fixed when seeing the look of shock on the ref's face, when Marcello got his og....

I think the ref was just shit and of course home advantage counts in these things. Brazil looked decent, not brilliant but there's no point playing good now, wait for the later rounds to hit some form. Or just get spawny/cheat like the Germans/Argentinians.

yes, it's pure luck that we always seems to be in and around the semis

Glad you agree

and of course the fact that we have won it 3 times, was also a huge amount of luck

Huh?

Germany.

So MS, do you think you are in with a shout this time around?

don't think so, although our midfield is very strong - with only one striker in the squad I am not sure we will have enough. Beaten semi-finalists again I'd say

Thought it was a decent opening game, if not a great amount of quality football on display at least we had 2 teams having a go which is not always the case in the opening game.

Naymar's elbow would have been harse to be a red, but it was close, but he was kicked all over the place tonight so I think he earnt that.

Penalty wasn't a penalty, but when I originally saw it real time I thought it was so I can understand why the ref gave it.  Fred is a clever fucker and the ref fell for it, people should be moaning at Fred rather than the ref.

Disallowed goal should have been disallowed, the Croatian player jumped into the keeper and knocked him out of play, even though the keeper made a complete hash of the cross.  If that was against England we would have wanted it, even though we probably wouldn't have got it.

The ref didn't have the best of games but hardly a fix.  And as for diving brazilian football players, they have been doing it for 50 years plus so I am surprised at the outrage of last night on twatter etc.

Perfect challenge from Olic on the keeper - no way was that a foul.

I had Neymar to score anytime at an enhanced 4/1. Buying money.

He had his arms down and keeper jumped into him, never a foul.

Exactly, perhaps it was just me but I don't remember Croatia ever getting a 50-50 decision in the whole game.

Oh and Neymar looks like a rat!

Not with England's penalty record.

I did say some games but good point well made

All about opinions, I thought it was a good decision.  The fact that he jumped into him made it a foul for me.  If it was England we would have been screaming for it.

Think any team would and while it probably wasn't really a foul any sort of challenge on the keeper usually results in a foul. A lot of ref's would have given that one. I like to think not too many would have given the pen mind. Otherwise we are in trouble!

Try watching it again. Olic's arms were out the way and he jumped up pretty straight. Cesar is going backwards and jumps into Olic. Not a free kick in a million years.

^^^ This

Brazil to wear Yellow at 2/1 tenner max bet and Brazil to win at EVNS 40 max bet... chuffed.

Jeez this is becoming a farce already, that's 2 good goals the Mexicans have had ruled out.

It's a mystery how the Loony Roons have been able to bribe the officials, as they can't pay the players. Maybe Samual Eto'o is personally funding it....as he seems to be managing the side a swell. Mbia, who has plenty of previous could have walked, didn't get a yellow   :)

good comparison between the olic incident and the dutch 3rd goal.Either both were fouls or were not, instead we get one of each.