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World Cup - Two-goal Neymar fires Brazil to controversial opening win
eurosport.yahoo.com ^ | June 13, 2014 | Eurosport

Posted on 06/13/2014 1:58:16 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper

Neymar saved Brazil's blushes as a controversial late penalty saw him strike a double to give the hosts a 3-1 win over Croatia.

The Barcelona forward converted a hotly disputed spot-kick 19 minutes from time after Fred tumbled under minimal contact from Dejan Lovren.

It capped a superb night for the 22-year-old on a personal level as he marked his 50th cap for his country by drilling in a low 25-yard effort just shy of the half hour after Niko Kovac's side had silenced a buoyant home crowd.

(Excerpt) Read more at uk.eurosport.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: worldcup2014
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To: Berlin_Freeper

That was the worst call I’ve ever seen in World Cup play. I feel bad for Croatia.


21 posted on 06/13/2014 3:43:01 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: Berlin_Freeper
World Cup 2014 opener hijacked by Pitbull's 'mankle' pants
FIFA boss Sepp Blatter’s awkward grandpa dancing is no longer the most cringe worthy aspect of the 2014 World Cup, Pitbull’s fashion forward white pants are.

The star of the official tournament song We Are One (Ola Ola) emerged on stage at the opening ceremony in what can best be described as a pair of white pants he stole from his cohort Jennifer Lopez.

Interestingly, Lopez, aka J-Lo, wore a similar pair of high-waisted, stark white, ankle-baring chinos during her appearance on The Tonight Show earlier this week, where together with host Jimmy Fallon she performed the sketch ''Tight Pants''.

▶ We Are One (Stolen Mankle Pants, Ole Ola) Opening Ceremony Brazil World Cup 2014

22 posted on 06/13/2014 3:47:50 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper
World Cup 2014: Today at the tournament - day two
After Brazil began the World Cup with a 3-1 victory against Croatia, attention on day two turns to one of the most eagerly awaited games of the group stage.

Spain, the reigning world and European champions, meet Netherlands in a repeat of the 2010 final, one of three fixtures as the tournament gets into full swing.

Mexico v Cameroon
Spain v Netherlands
Chile v Australia

23 posted on 06/13/2014 4:06:18 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Spain vs Holland: All the stats, facts and team news for the first game in Group B
Spain and Holland played out one of the most disappointing World Cup finals in history four years ago. They get a chance to make amends right away in Brazil.

In one of the quirks of the draw for Brazil, Spain opens the defense of its title against the country it beat in the championship decider in Johannesburg four years ago.

But while Vicente Del Bosque's team has stuck to its attacking philosophy, Holland coach Louis van Gaal is packing his defense and hoping one of his three star forwards, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben or Wesley Sneijder, can snatch a goal on the counterattack in their Group B opener at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador.

A tasty rematch in 2014's first trio
13 June 2014 marks a first in FIFA World Cup™ history: the two finalists from the previous edition will go head-to-head in the group stage four years on. Reigning champions Spain go into the tournament having prolonged their stranglehold by defending their UEFA European Championship title at EURO 2012, where they beat Italy in the final. The Netherlands, on the other hand, suffered a hangover from their defeat in the South Africa 2010 showpiece and lost all three of their group fixtures at the EUROs, falling to Germany, Portugal and Denmark. However, having sailed through qualifying as usual, Arjen Robben and Co are out for revenge against La Roja.

▶ World Cup Team Profile: SPAIN - YouTube
▶ World Cup Team Profile: NETHERLANDS - YouTube

24 posted on 06/13/2014 4:30:39 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Mexico vs. Cameroon: World Cup 2014 Match Preview
Mexico was downright woeful in qualifying, sneaking into the Cup finals only because the United States beat Panama late in the last qualifier and the Mexicans survived a home-and-home playoff with New Zealand. The team will need the veteran Rafael Marquez, team captain in four straight Cups, to keep things tight at the back.

Cameroon also fluked into the Cup, after Togo lost points on a technicality. And the team has bickered with its administration over bonus money. The signs are not auspicious.

Epic Mexican commentator: "We love you forever and ever...God Bless America!" - YouTube

▶ World Cup Team Profile: MEXICO - YouTube
▶ World Cup Team Profile: CAMEROON - YouTube

25 posted on 06/13/2014 4:41:21 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper
Australia v Chile: The Lowdown
Chile were second only to winners Argentina in the South American qualifying group scoring chart with 29 goals in 16 matches after a fine run-in with five wins and a draw to finish third behind Colombia.

Striker Eduardo Vargas and midfielder Arturo Vidal were joint top-scorers for Chile in the qualifiers with five apiece — Australia rely heavily for goals on veteran Tim Cahill, who holds the national record of 32 in 68 appearances.

Socceroos quietly hope to spring a World Cup surprise against Chile
Virtually everyone has written off the Socceroos, and every day a new global media outlet steps forward with a fresh, data-assisted spin on the near-impossibility of their task. But Ange Postecoglou will surely be hoping that the disjuncture between appearance and reality, magically at work in the city that fans out around the Arena Pantanal, will somehow rub off on this Australian team, so easily cast aside in the global consciousness as a cute and willing band of friendly no-hopers.

The Socceroos take to the field on Friday night (8am Saturday AEST) in hope more than anything else, but the hope comes with a decent foothold in reasoned expectation. Performances in the warm-up games have traced an encouraging arc of improvement, and the starting XI now has a pleasantly settled, familiar look to it.

▶ World Cup Team Profile: AUSTRALIA - YouTube
▶ World Cup Team Profile: CHILE - YouTube

26 posted on 06/13/2014 4:53:48 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Some commentators suggested that FIFA should use refs from the bigger leagues from Europe or S. America for the opening game. The J-League is not one of the world’s best.


27 posted on 06/13/2014 5:34:55 AM PDT by gusty (9)
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To: gusty
Thank You European Officials for showing you are so much more competent.
28 posted on 06/13/2014 6:17:48 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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One of Brazil's top players, Neymar, elbowing, not called by the ref. Same Ref who red carded a Brazilian against Netherlands in 2010.
29 posted on 06/13/2014 6:31:41 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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Though I wouldn’t want to say “corrupt”, favoring one side is what sounds like what happened. Not strictly incompetence. Shoddy officiating has plagued the World Cups, discussed in yesterday’s thread.


30 posted on 06/13/2014 6:39:42 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: BeadCounter

In 2010, 4 refs sent home, 2 from Europe, 1 from South America, 1 from Africa.

“Four referees who found themselves at the centre of embarrassing World Cup blunders left for home on Tuesday after failing to make the shortlist for the remainder of the tournament.

Uruguay’s Jorge Larrionda, the man who missed Frank Lampard’s ‘goal’ in England’s 4-1 defeat to Germany, is on the hit-list.

Italian official Roberto Rosetti, who allowed Carlos Tevez’s header to stand despite the Argentinian striker being offside against Mexico, is also heading home.

France’s Stephane Lannoy and Koman Coulibaly of Mali also missed out on the list of 19 referees released by FIFA to officiate from the quarter-finals onwards.”

http://www.soccernews.com/lampard-blunder-referee-goes-home/40663/


Filled out a spreadsheet in a contest about 10 days ago, so not as good as when you can change your mind at the last moment.

I predicted Mexico/Cameroon and Netherlands/Spain to draw, Chile to win.


31 posted on 06/13/2014 8:53:38 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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Mejicanos al grito de la guerra, da da da da da, un soldado en cada hijo que dio,

si un ememigo extrano....


32 posted on 06/13/2014 8:56:44 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: Berlin_Freeper

BEEF JERKY TIME! Go Cameroon!

33 posted on 06/13/2014 9:00:06 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BeadCounter

Mexico is outplaying Cameroon big time, so far, but still 0-0.


34 posted on 06/13/2014 9:12:03 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: BeadCounter

Mexico got screwed.


35 posted on 06/13/2014 9:13:06 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Mexico got screwed.
________________________________

Maybe, but it’s only an fricken game. Meanwhile we are being royally screwed by Mexico.

Fmex


36 posted on 06/13/2014 9:16:56 AM PDT by Covenantor ("Men are ruled...by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern." Chesterton)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

I’m tracking how many goals are scored by club team. So far:

Barcelona 2 (Neymar)
Chelsea 1 (Oscar)
Real Madrid -1 (Marcelo)


37 posted on 06/13/2014 9:35:43 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

Mexico disallowed goals. When one checks neutral forums, it’s apparent they think it’s a bad call or 2, linesman could have been overruled in 2nd goal, went off some say a Cameroon player’s head.


38 posted on 06/13/2014 9:46:26 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: BeadCounter

Jay Demerit and the other guy, forget his name said as much on ESPN. This officiating... can’t believe they can’t get this right. That’s the big knock on soccer but it is usually quite a bit less in the Premier League. This is atrocious.


39 posted on 06/13/2014 9:50:46 AM PDT by BeadCounter
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Poor guy...what a start to his World Cup.


40 posted on 06/13/2014 10:13:17 AM PDT by Churchillspirit (9/11/2001 and 9/11/2012: NEVER FORGET.)
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