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The Day in 100 Words or Less It was a day for football fans to try and set aside their consciences and allow what happens on the field to distract them away from the happenings in Brazil. It was a day where the host nation were asked to open the tournament and show us what they were made of: A day that the history books will show as a win for Brazil but ultimately the bigger story was much more than that. Observations - Croatia deserved a chance to show us what they were made of. For 70 minutes they were rightfully level with the World Cup favourites. It could have been an acid test for Niko Kovacs side to see what they could accomplish. Unfortunately, they were robbed of that opportunity. - It was a very unfortunate moment. Many eyes were on this game that rarely glance at a soccer match and when referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the spot in the 70th minute the world asked: "Why?" The Japanese official adjudged that Dejan Lovren had fouled Fred but the truth was he placed his hand on his shoulders and the Fluminense man went down. - With the world watching it was hard not to feel sadness. In the opening act of the games greatest carnival, one mans massive error in judgment had turned the spectacle into a farce. - It then became Neymars day. For a 22-year-old making his World Cup debut in Brazil, wearing the famous number 10 shirt, he showed a remarkable amount of poise. He had already scored one, gliding into space provided by Oscar, before unleashing a shot passed Stipe Pletikosa and then, at 1-1, he had the nations hopes placed on his right foot. - The referee handed the ball to Neymar at 69:30 and he placed it on the spot at 69:38. He then waited and waited and waited some more before placing the ball into the net 50 seconds after he put it down on the ground. I am not sure what was going through Neymars mind during those 50 seconds but he showed no sign of pressure in one of the most intense moments in recent Brazilian football history. - Croatia, led by the intelligence of Luka Modric, didnt go down easily and the game remained remarkably open until the final stages when Oscar finished it off. - We may never see another game at this World Cup that was this stretched. Brazil worked the flanks the entire game and two of Croatias most dangerous attacks (one on which was their goal) came from crosses wide in the opening 10 minutes. - Remarkably, less than 18 per cent of Brazils attacks came through the middle. Man of the Day Nominees: Neymar – a brace from Mr. Box Office in the biggest game of his young life put his face in newspapers across the globe. Oscar – The Chelsea playmaker had a brilliant game and showed just why Luiz Felipe Scolari cared little for his poor form at Chelsea in the last few months of the Premier League season. Luka Modric – Brazils two central midfielders had a very difficult time against the Real Madrid man, who was very intelligent with his passing and feasted on space when countering. Ivan Perisic – the Croatian winger had a very good game and it will be interesting to see if other players, asked to play against Brazils left side attacker, can be influential because Hulk - used a lot on the left - showed little appetite to track back. Yuichi Nishimura – the referee made a monumental mistake. Some on social media jumped to an assumption of match-fixing. Everyone needs to be very careful when drawing a line between incompetence and intentional error. The winner... Oscar was sensational. Many expected him to play centrally but he occupied a wide right position, tracking back and winning all four tackles he attempted. Brazil clearly had a plan to attack down the right but it was the 22-year-olds exceptional play certainly helped emphasize that method. Oscar has the potential to be the best player at this World Cup. He is so versatile, he can be three players in one. He is capable of coming deep and helping out the two central midfielders, can move wide and pull defenders with him to open up space centrally (which is what happened on Neymars first goal) and he can advance and run beyond all, pulling opposing back lines deeper. Brazil may need to change their style against a top team later in the tournament, potentially bringing in a Ramires or Fernandinho for Hulk, for example, and Scolari was given food for thought on day one for this because of the brilliance of Oscar out wide. Dani Alves was the biggest beneficiary of Oscars positioning. The Barcelona right back was culpable on the opening goal, pressing higher than anyone on Pletikosa as Croatia started an attack, but as the game settled down so did the 30-year-old. Between them they created a dynamic duo with overlaps and easily led the game in total pass completions between team-mates. What Comes Next? Day 2 sees Mexico vs Cameroon (Noon et/9am pt), Spain vs Netherlands (3pm et/Noon pt) and Chile vs Australia (6pm et/3pm pt). Catch all the game live on the TSN radio networks. Burning Question for Tomorrow Will a young Dutch team be brave enough to play a back three and counter a potentially vulnerable Spanish team? All stats and diagrams were powered by Opta Cheap Asics Shoes Ireland . A groundswell for raising the number of playoff qualifiers to seven in each conference figures to get plenty of support from the 32 owners. Most notably, Arizonas Bill Bidwill, who saw his Cardinals go 10-6 and not get in, while Green Bay (8-7-1) qualified by winning the NFC North. Asics Shoes Ireland Sale . The Canadiens captain, who underwent surgery on his injured biceps in the off-season, had been skating with the team in a non-contact capacity since last week. http://www.wholesaleasicsireland.com/.ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen, NFL Editor Ben Fisher, and Isaac Owusu discuss three hot fantasy football topics. Asics Ireland Sale .Y. -- The Detroit Red Wings had just enough time to salvage a point. Asics Ireland Outlet . - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has an agreement to bring back outside linebacker Parys Haralson on a one-year deal.NEWARK, N.J. - Patrik Elias was in a reflective mood after notching his 1,000th NHL point.Elias had a goal and two assists, and the New Jersey Devils beat the struggling Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Tuesday night.I dont think I ever considered myself a goal scorer, coming here when I was 19 years old, said Elias, who notched No. 399 on Tuesday. I love playing hockey, being a playmaker. I never imagined Id be in this position.Now in his 17th season — all with the Devils — Elias reached the milestone in his 1,187th game.Its special to do it for one team, the 38-year-old Elias said. Sometimes its hard to score, the way weve played our systems. You have great years, you have injuries. You have to battle through it. Its not easy to get to 1,000 points.Travis Zajac and Michael Cammalleri each had a goal and an assist.When a guys played 1,000 games, thats a really great career, Cammalleri said. Now 1,000 points, thats a whole other level. Theres a lot that goes into that. Its quite an accomplishment for him.Jordin Tootoo also scored as the Devils won consecutive games for the first time since Nov. 14. Cory Schneider made 20 saves.It seems as though the Devils need a milestone from a veteran to get a victory these days.The modest two-game streak began Saturday night against Philadelphia when 42-year-old Jaromir Jagr scored three times and became the oldest NHL player to have a hat trick.On Tuesday, Mikhail Grigorenko netted his first goal of the season for the Sabres, who have lost five straight and are 1-8-1 in their last 10 games.Were not playing within our system, defenceman Tyler Myers said. Were not doing things we normally do. I think it all comes down to preparation.Myers returned to the Buffalo lineup after missing seven games with a lower-body injury.The Devils dominated the first period, jumping out to a 3-0 lead and outshooting the Sabres 13-4. Elias had a goal and an assist in the frame. HHe opening the scoring at 3:44, redirecting Cammalleris pass between Jhonas Enroths pads.ddddddddddddTootoo made it 2-0 at 9:49 with a wrist shot from above the left circle that sailed over Enroths glove. Schneider earned the second assist, giving him his first point with the Devils.With New Jersey short-handed, Elias chipped the puck out the Devils end and sent Zajac on his way to a breakaway goal at 14:39.The reason we got the results early is that we played the way we like to play, Cammalleri said. We made strong decisions with the puck, and we wound up on the positive end of things.Buffalo regrouped to start the second period, and Philip Varone and Chris Stewart tested Schneider in the opening minutes.The Sabres persistence paid off when Grigorenko ripped a power-play shot from the high slot past Schneider at 6:40 to trim the Devils lead to 3-1.Buffalo again pressed the attack midway through the third period, and came close to scoring when Varone hit the post.We only played 40 minutes tonight and you need to play 60, Sabres forward Nicolas Deslauriers said. We had some opportunities, some good chances. We just came out too soft, and they took it to us.The Sabres couldnt break through again, and Cammalleri iced the game for New Jersey with an empty-net goal. That gave Elias the milestone assist as he became the 82nd player to reach 1,000 points.NOTES: The Sabres recalled Varone and C Brian Flynn from Rochester (AHL) on Monday. ... Buffalo scratched RW Brian Gionta (upper body), RW Drew Stafford, D Andrej Meszaros and D Andre Benoit. ... New Jersey scratched LW Martin Havlat (illness), D Peter Harrold (facial injury), and D Eric Gelinas (illness). ... Devils D Mark Fraser and Stewart fought right after the faceoff following Elias goal. ... Schneider has seven career assists. Martin Brodeur, the longtime goalie he replaced, had 45 assists and two goals with the Devils. ' ' '

Everyone needs to be very careful when drawing a line between incompetence and intentional error. The winner