Seven reckless predictions based on the Brazil, Croatia game:
1. Expect close contests
OK, a 3-1 score line looks like a one-sided game. Especially, when all four goals have been scored by the same team, but for some poor calls by the referee Yuichi Nishimura, the result could have been very different. A disallowed goal and a soft penalty thwarted any hopes that Croatia may have harboured for an early upset, but fact remains that for long periods they had Brazil on the back foot. While every world cup has its dark horse and upsets, don't expect any team to simply roll over for the 'favourites'.
2. Expect cleaner games
For most of the match the Japanese referee kept his cards in his pocket. That was also due to the fact that Brazil is not a particularly physical team, but it seems that FIFA wants the games to be disruption free. However, the few close calls that Nishimura made turned out to be wrong.
3. Neymar will be the star of Brazil 2014
There was a lot of talk about him before the tournament kicked off and Neymar justified all the hype against the Croats. He is the star player for the hosts and will hog the limelight. Brazil plays attacking football and with the likes of Oscar feeding him, expect Neymar to score a bunch of goals and steal the limelight from the likes of Messi and Ronaldo.
4. Diving debate will intensify
For Croatia it killed the match. With the match poised at 1-1, Brazil were awarded a penalty which Neymar duly converted. It was a poor call. Fred had dived and should have got a yellow card, instead Croatia were left to chase the game. It has rekindled the debate on diving in football. Many believe that FIFA needs to introduce a system of retrospective action for diving. Many coaches and managers call it a disgrace but the fact is that every team has been on either side of a dive sometime or the other.
5. Technology will take centre stage
In its bid to minimize errors, FIFA has introduced the goal line technology to avoid any 'ghost' goals. It has caught everyone's attention and it is only a matter of time before it comes into play in Brazil. The 'magic' spray which is being used by referees at the world cup to mark free kick spots and defense lines has already made its debut. It is generating significant buzz on football forums and expect these technologies to make their way to Europe's top football leagues after the world cup.
6. Brazil will struggle
They are the favourites, but Scolari's Samba boys failed to convince against Croatia. Everyone expected the Selecao to run riot at the Sao Paulo but the fact is that with a bit more luck the Blazers could have pulled off a stunning upset in the very first game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
7. Jennifer Lopez is no Shakira
Judging by the reactions to the opening ceremony, it seems Lopez has lost out to Shakira when it comes to football anthems. Her performance with Pit Bull left many wishing for a Waka Waka. Even the tiny green number failed to get the fans excited.
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