Relive: Brazil v Croatia (2014 World Cup opener)

Ahram Online is providing live coverage of Thursday's World Cup opener between hosts Brazil and Croatia in Group A

Second half: Brazil 3-1 Croatia
90+4 The referee blows the final whistle, it's Brazil three, Croatia one in the World Cup opening Group A match.
90' TV replays show that Croatia should have been given a foul in the build-up of the goal, but still the Europeans' defence, who offered Oscar swathes of spaces, and goalkeeper are to blame.
90' Keeper Pletikosa is to be held responsible for the goal actually, failing to block a low shot from distance that should have seen him done better than that!
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90' GOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL!!!! Oscar makes it three!!!
88' Ramires comes in for goal-scorer Neymar, who receives a standing ovation from the fans as he heads to the dugout.
87' Gustavo is booked following a fierce challenge against Real Madrid star Modric.
85' Modric attempts an ambitious shot from distance but Cezar fails to collect the ball on a single save.
83' The referee gives Cezar a foul following an aerial challenge with Olic, as the Croatians seem far from satisfied with the referee's decsion.
81' Croatia are doing great to weather Brazil's late attacks, but they still need to work the ball up the field if they are to get something from the game.
80' Fred's header from Neymar's cross hits Corluka before going wide, another corner for Brazil.
78' The second change for Croatia, Rabic comes in for Jelavic.
77' WHAT A CHANCE!!! David Luiz could have well scored Brazil's third of the night but sees his header from Oscar's cross miss the target!
70' Frankly speaking, the Croatians never deserved such a goal for all the effort they put in during the game!
70' Pletikosa almost blocked Neymar's shot but the forward's kick was too hard for the hapless keeper to handle!! How unlucky!!
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70' GOOOOOALLLL!!! Neymar scores the second of the night!!
70' TV replays show that Fred had fallen down to the ground following minimal contact...it's no penalty by all means.
70 The referee points to the spot!!! Awarding Brazil a PENALTY!!!
69' Bernard replaces Hulk.
67' Alves plays it as his powerful set-piece narrowly misses the target.
65' Corluka booked after clipping Neymar during a dangerous counter attack for the Brazilians...A free kick for the Selecao.
63' Brazil's first change sees Paulinho make way for Hernanes.
60' Th first substitution of the game, Brozovic replaces Kovacic for Croatia.
60' 15 minutes elapsed into the second half, with Brazil mainly controlling but yet to threaten Pletikosa.
58' Paulinho makes an overcooked pass to to Neymar on the right, the latter fails to receive the pass.
56' After dominating control for a couple of minutes, Perisic blasts wide!
54' Croatia are unable to keep the ball for long periods, the Brazilians quickly dispossess them!
50' The hosts are pressuring their opponents early in the second half in search for the winner, with their attacks mainly through the right flank which is occupied by Alves and Oscar.
46' Following an eventul open first half, let's hope for an equally entertaining second with the result tied at 1-1.
The second half kicks off.
45+2 The referee blows the whistle ending the first half..let's see how dressing-room talks are going to change things after the break.
45' Hulk blasts high from inside the area in what could have been a promising chance.
43' Following some good team work, Fred is eventually flagged for offside.
42' Neymar takes it but deflects off the wall, out for corner.
41' A free kick for Brazil from a quite good position after Rakitic tripped Neymar near the box..let's see what the Brazilians are going to do with the set-piece.
35' Croatia doing well while closing down spaces in their own half, depriving their fancied opponents from much-needed areas.
34' Another corner for the hosts but the Pletikosa easily gathers the ball.
29' Neymar sees a low effort from long range hit the inside of the post before flowing into the net!!! An outstretched Pletikosa should have done better than that after all the heroics he produced tonight!
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29' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLL!!!! Brazlil equalize!!!
24' Neymar cautioned following a flailing arm against an opponent, the Barcelona forward looks a bit edgy tonight, he needs to hold his nerves.
22' the flamboyant Neymar holds off Rakitic near the byline before pulling back the ball, which was cleared away to be picked up Oscar, whose superb curler is delightfully parried by keeper Pletikosa!! What a magnificent piece of goalkeeping from the Croatian!!
21' Paulinho brilliantly evades two challengers while surging intot the area but his final shot finds keeper Pletikosa's hands.
18' Alves makes a brilliant control of the ball inside the box but sends in an awful cross into the keeper's hands. Brazil still need to pose real threat on goal.
15' The Brazilians are piling up pressure in search for an equalizer but Croatia are doing great untill now to hold them off.
13' Oscar whips in a great cross but both Fred and Neymar failed to connect...
11' Olic makes a superb run down the left before sending a low cross, which was inadvertently converted by Marcelo into his own net!! What a start!!
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11' GOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!! Croatia take the lead!!!
9' Paulinho strikes from distance, but hits an opponent as it goes out for corner.
7' That was close!!! Olic sees a header go just narrowly wide...the Croatians are not going to be pushovers tonight!!
6' The vociferous home fans are creating a feverish atmosphere with their relentless cheering..
6' The free kick is eventually headed into the keeper's hands by Luiz
5' A free kick for the hosts from the left following a challenge by Srna against Hulk
3' Olic brilliantly evades two challengers down the left but his cross is cleared away...
2' Croatia are camping inside their own half with Brazil dictating play now.
1' Kovacic attempts a shot from outside the box early one, but his effort goes wide of the post.
The match gets underway...
22:55 Two-time World Cup winner Cafu is present in the stands.
22: 53 Both teams are now lining up for the national anthem.
22:50 Their form under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been impressive, having won 15 of their last 16 games in a superb run that also included a Confederations Cup triumph at the expense of Spain last year.
22:45 Five-time winners Brazil always play for the World Cup title but they have an extra incentive this time around: their fans cannot afford a repeat of 1950 when they lost to Uruguay in the final at their own Maracana Stadium.
22: 35 "To all Brazilians, I want to tell you the time has arrived. This is our World Cup.'' Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.
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22: 32"I really hope I can help my team in the best possible way to fulfil the dream of the players, and Brazilians, which is to win the World Cup." Neymar said ahead of the game.
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22: 30Croatia have won their last two games, beating Mali and Australia 2-1 and 1-0.
22: 27Defender Danijel Pranjic looks set to miss out after picking up an ankle injury in the warm-up win against Australia last weekend.
22:24 Croatia midfielder Ivan Mocinic will take no part in the World Cup and has been sent home after failing to recover from a recurring ankle injury, with coach Niko Kovac calling up Milan Badelj as a replacement.
22: 22 Brazil come into the game on the back of successive wins over Panama and Serbia, who were seen off 4-0 and 1-0 respectively at the Estadio do Maracana.
22:20 Now both teams have entered the pitch ,with the Brazilians receiving a vociferous celebration from their home fans
22:15 Croatia goalkeepers step onto the pitch as they start warming up.
Line-ups:
Brazil: D.Alves, T.Silva, D.Luiz, Marcelo; Paulinho, L.Gustavo; Hulk, Oscar, Neymar; Fred.
Croatia: Pletikosa, Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Vrsaijko, Brozovic, Modric, Rakitic, Perisic, Olic, Jelavic.
21:45 Bayern Munich frontman Mandzukic is banned after his red card in the play-off game against Iceland back in November, with Hull City striker Nikica Jelavic likely to get the nod in attack.
21:30 A flamboyant ceremony is currently underway, with an apparently packed stadium watching the festival, to follow live updates of the opening ceremony click here.
21:00 The Brazilian supporters began to flow into the stands, with a good number of the home fans seen waving their nation's flags.
20:45 Paris Saint-Germain-bound David Luiz will line up at centre-back, with Tottenham midfielder Paulinho providing some protection for the back four.
20:15 Fred will lead the line for the host nation, with support coming from Neymar, Oscar and Hulk as Scolari's men look to get off to a perfect start.
19:45 A lot of the country's hopes rest on the shoulders of star forward Neymar, who has shaken off an ankle injury to feature in the Group A opener.
19:15 The host nation has never lost their opening World Cup game, with the 20 previous hosts winning 14 and drawing six of their openers.
Venue: Corinthians Arena (Sao Paulo)
Referee:
Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Assistants:
Toru Sagara (Japan)
Toshiyuki Nagi (Japan)
Fourth official:
Alireza Faghani (Iran)
For the match preview, click here
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