The World Cup that refuses to conform: an enthralling first round leaves a football-speaking globe breathless

SUPER SUB: Belgium's Marouane Fellaini scored against Algeria

There’s something wrong with this World Cup. We’re supposed to be in the tentative early stages of the greatest footballing show on earth – and nobody’s paying ANY attention to history.

Traditionally, even in the old days of 16 teams in the finals, the first game of the group phase is a cautious event. Neither side wants to lose for fear of being ruled out of contention after 90 minutes. The first round ended with Russia v South Korea the 16^th and final game – and we are confounded.

This has been a World Cup of supersubs coming on to save their nation, come-from-behind triumphs and attack-at-all-costs. It’s NORMAL for side who have gone behind to be content with a point when they snatch an equaliser.

But not in Brazil this time.  Those awful 0-0 draws are few and far between. The 1-0 stale-mate has become a fascinating temptation for the chasing team. The stand-out examples of this exciting footballing revolution were the shocking triumphs registered by the Netherlands and Costa Rica – and even Africa's top-ranked Algeria against fashionable Belgium.

A dodgy penalty saw the Dutch go behind against World Cup holders Spain… and when Robin van Persie produced a stunning lobbed dive-header over Iker Casillas to equalise, you might have thought that was that when we got to half-time at 1-1.

Goal of the tournament? Van Persie's header v Spain

But not this time. The Netherlands, beaten 1-0 by Spain’s tika-taka troops in the 2010 final in Soccer City four years ago, were having none of that “what we have we hold” nonsense.

Van Persie and Aarjen Robben simply continued to torment the Spainful champions. A team that had conceded just three goals in winning their last two major tournaments found themselves 2-1 down. Then three, four, five… and it might have been six.

Casillas took a lot of the blame, he blundered on one cross for the third, came out too early on the fourth. But to blame one man – a goalkeeper accustomed to the bench at Real Madrid too often over the last two seasons – would be churlish.

We had barely got over the shock of that epic 5-1 defeat at Costa Rica were at it. Ranked lower than Bafana Bafana just a year ago, we knew they weren’t a pushover for Uruguay, who required a play-off against Jordan to reach the finals.

But when the former two-time World Cup winners, playing on their own continent, went ahead, everyone assumed Uruguay would be at of the Latin American Samba to the knock-out stages.

But no. With Arsenal’s loan ranger Joel Campbell scoring one and making another, Costa Rica levelled and then stuck it to their highly-rated rivals, seventh in the FIFA world rankings before the tournament.

Their 3-1 win was nearly as surprising as Holland’s triumph over Spain. And it blew the toughest group of the tournament wide open. Italy went on to beat England 2-1 with a typical Mario Balotelli winner – but who is to say who will qualify from Group D?

It’s been breathless. It’s been far too exciting. Far too many goals, especially compared to Spain’s seven-goal bore war in South Africa four years ago.

To add to the drama, Africa’s great hopefuls the Ivory Coast came back from a goal down to beat Japan in the wee hours of Saturday morning.

Since then, we’re seen African champions Nigeria held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Iran (the first of the tournament) while Germany crushed Portugal 4-0 to leave Ghana, beaten 2-1 thanks to a lapse of concentration against the USA, in a very tight spot. It could be worse. Both Nigeria and Iran have a point more than England, beaten 2-1 by Italian Mario Balotelli's towering header.

Not this time: Italy overcame
England 2-1 in Manaus

Barring miracles, Africa could find themselves with only Cote D'Ivoire of the Big Five surviving to the knock-out stages. But there’s still a long way to go, with Brazil and Mexico the only sides to have played twice so far – their 0-0 draw means Cameroon could go out of the tournament if they lose their second game to Croatia.

Gripping stuff. But we cannot ignore the opening game. On the face of it, Brazil 3, Croatia 1 looks like another example of the revolutionary gender: a come-from-behind win which saw Filipe Scolari refusing to accept a point, gunning for all three after the equaliser.

But of course it wasn’t. With protests and stun grenades in the streets, there was a feeling a poor opening result would spark further trouble for FIFA and the host nation. Marcelo’s own goal had given Croatia the lead, Neymar’s low shot levelled just before the break.

But as I had predicted on twitter several times in the build-up, it needed a dodgy Neymar penalty to win it. Fred, who touched the ball just five times on the night, did what he was told. He fell over when he felt a hand on his should. The lightest brush of contact. Dive, dive, dive.

The feckless Japanese referee blew without hesitation. Neymar penalty. 2-1. Croatia went for the equaliser and got it, only for their goal to be disallowed for a questionable foul on Julio Cesar in the Brazilian goal. Okay, the impressive Oscar added a third, but by then the damage was done. And a sour taste was left in the mouth.

I leave it to Croatia coach Niko Kovac to sum it up: "If that's how we start the World Cup, we'd better give it up now and go home. We talk about respect, that wasn't respect, Croatia didn't get any. If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore. Let's play basketball instead, it's a shame."

There was an opportunity for a repeat of that in the late stages of the 0-0 draw against Mexico, fortunately the spot kick wasn’t given. But a point means Brazil will probably not to stumble out early. That would make things far too exciting.

SOCCERBALLZ! my innovative football show on www.ballz.co.za with Mark Fish airs every Thursday from 9am-11am. See Ballz' channel for our growing library of fascinating football interviews with the big names. Ballz will also provide daily World Cup updates from next week.

You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday in www.thenewage.co.za.

My second round Kick Off Predictor selections: 

Belgium 2

vs

Algeria 0

Brazil 2

vs

Mexico 1

Russia 2

vs

Korea Republic 0

Australia 0

vs

Netherlands 2

Spain 2

vs

Chile 1

Cameroon 0

vs

Croatia 2

Colombia 1

vs

Ivory Coast 1

Uruguay 0

vs

England 1

Japan 1

vs

Greece 1

Italy 2

vs

Costa Rica 0

Switzerland 1

vs

France 2

Honduras 0

vs

Ecuador 1

Argentina 4

vs

Iran 0

Germany 3

vs

Ghana 1

Nigeria 0

vs

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1

AND SO THE WORLD CUP BEGINS: Brazil 3-1 Croatia with a helping hand from the referee (as predicted)

Neymaaaaaaaaar: Brazil open their account

And so it begins. The careful manipulation of the greatest footballing event on earth. With protests and stun grenades in the streets, FIFA couldn’t afford to see hosts Brazil get off to a bad start.

But they did. Right from that early Marcelo own goal, Filip Scolari’s fired-up side found themselves frustrated and flustered against a determined Croatia, who were never markedly outplayed by the Samba nation.

Neymar, as expected, produced the equaliser… but after Stipe Pletikosa’s early bravery his long range, poorly hit shot looked gettable for an international stopper.

IF YOU DON'T ACCEPT MY VIEW, TRY THIS FROM CROATIA COACH NIKO KOVAC: "If that's how we start the World Cup, we'd better give it up now and go home. We talk about respect, that wasn't respect, Croatia didn't get any. If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore. Let's play basketball instead, it's a shame."

The second half just never unfolded like Brazil hoped it would. With the crowd getting increasingly agitated, the Neymar penalty winner I’d been predicting all day on twitter (feel free to check my timeline at www.twitter.com/nealcol) was almost inevitable.

Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura watched Fred control the ball poorly and lean in to the defender before tumbling dramatically backwards. And without hesitation, he pointed to the spot. It was Fred’s most important – possibly his only – meaningful contribution in Sao Paulo. And as Ryan Giggs confirmed afterwards, it was NEVER a penalty.

Robbed: Croatia reaction

Neymar stuck the penalty away – though Pletikosa got both hands to it – and my twitter timeline was immediately swamped by those shocked that I had so accurately predicted the “Brazil must win” scenario.

The white sangoma had struck again, they said. I had thrown the bones. A dodgy Neymar penalty, just as I predicted. But in truth, it was always going to happen. There is no sorcery here. As I told Bloemfontein Celtic-bound Bevan Fransman as events unfolded, when you’ve watched as many World Cups as I have, you expect the dodgy decisions and obedient referees.

Croatia then pummeled the Brazil goal at 1-2 down and could have levelled twice before they put the ball in the net, only for Nishimura to call a foul on Julio Cesar in the Brazil goal. He didn’t even have the ball in his hands. A second glaring mistake.

Oscar – sparkling throughout – toe-punted a third past the hapless Pletikosa to seal the win and leave “experts” grovelling about an “emphatic” Brazilian victory on televisions globally in numerous different languages.

Oscar thanked God for the win, he should
have thanked Japanese ref Nishimura

Of course, it’s their job to “sell” the tournament when corporations pay millions to screen the World Cup. Around the world, analysts will talk of a bright, lively opening game. Four goals is a lot better than usual for the World Cup kick-off. Great start for the hosts.

At least the former Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, guesting in South Africa, had the gumption to admit: "Fred went down easily. It wasn't a penalty. The referee made a clear mistake." But then: “We’re off to a flying start, an emphatic win for Brazil,” said Premier League presenter John Dykes at the end of SuperSport’s analysis which goes the length of Africa. Bollockz.

In truth, particularly if you’re Croatian, there was only injustice to speak of. The penalty, the disallowed goal. Obvious and calculated. FIFA know where their bread is buttered.

They can put up with a shoddy Opening Ceremony with a terrible sound system. They can accept unfinished stadia. But they can’t risk further angering the Brazilian people after their $11 BILLION spend on this World Cup.

AND HOW ABOUT THIS FROM South American football expert Tim Vickery on the BBC: "Protests are planned outside the stadiums for every game. How this pans out I don't think anyone knows for sure. Two situations could make things worse - police reaction, or the nightmare scenario for Brazilian authorities which is Brazil exiting the tournament early.

"Disappointing performances on the field could fuel the fire of anger. You do wonder if Brazil get hometown decisions more often because it was would be a disaster if Brazil exited this tournament early."

Any rational governing body would have a look at both Nishimura’s whistling and Pletikosa’s keeping. But they won’t. It’s done. We move on.

On day two, we see Mexico v Cameroon at 6pm CAT (a real chance for Africa to get off to a flying start, Mexico needed a play-off against New Zealand to get to Brazil); the momentous rerun of the 2010 World Cup final between holder Spain and Holland at 9pm and Chile against lowest ranked Australia at midnight.

Great games in prospect. But for me, the opening night leaves a sour taste. Not many will say that, but I’m afraid it’s the truth.

SOCCERBALLZ! my innovative football show on www.ballz.co.za with Mark Fish airs every Thursday from 9am-11am. See Ballz' channel for our growing library of fascinating football interviews with the big names. Ballz will also provide daily World Cup updates from next week.

You can also follow me on www.twitter.com/nealcol for all the latest sports news and read my “Neal and Pray” column every Tuesday in www.thenewage.co.za.

The Picture That Proves Ryan Babel Is a Twit. But I Can't Say I Blame Him

There's nothing quite like the FA Cup. Historical, timeless. And there's nothing quite like Twitter. Hysterical, timely. For Ryan Babel, a combination of these two great social forces has served to create quite a stir this weekend.

Babel, infuriated by the actions of World Cup final referee Howard Webb, a shy, self-effacing official, chose to post the picture you see here on his Twitter site, @ryanbabbel.

Only the sharp eyed would have seen his response to Liverpool's desperate 1-0 defeat at Manchester United in an action-packed FA Cup third round. It was only up for a few minutes, but the Football Association reckon that's enough, and are set to "investigate" the Dutchman's itchy twitter finger.

Babel couldn't resist having a dig at Webb, posting the picture of him mocked up in a United shirt and complaining: "And they call him one of the best referees. That's a joke."

After removing the offending image and twitter, Babel realised what an erm... twit he'd been. He said soon afterwards: "My apology if they take my posted picture seriously. This is just a emotional reaction after losing an important game. Sorry Howard Webb."

Very convincing Ryan, thanks. It was his namesake Giggs who scored from the penalty Webb controversially gave when Daniel Agger's challenged Dimitar Berbatov. I said at the time (as @nealcol on twitter, where else?) that it was dodgy. No mastermind required to see that.

To rub salt in the wounds for Anfield fans witnessing Kenny Dalglish's first game in charge following the departure of Roy "Woy" Hodgson, Webb then sent the legend that is Steven Gerrard off after 32 minutes for a challenge on Michael Carrick.

The game over signs immediately began to flash. Dalgish said afterwards the penalty decision was "a joke" and, predictably also bemoaned his captain's red card.

Dalglish himself, who sometimes needs subtitles to help with his raw Glaswegian, could be in hot water for his comments.

In full, he said: "The two decisions are important factors in the game, but if you went into detail about them it would take away from the commitment of the players.

"It's difficult to come here, they are top of the league and when you are down to 10 men and lose a goal in the first minute you need to show commitment, and the players did that and they had great support here today as well.

"If we can restrict the team at the top of the league to that, that bodes well for us.

"We also brought three young lads on to try and freshen it up as our guys had put in so much effort.

"I did not think the penalty was a penalty kick. The sending off....Is anyone who leaves the ground to get sent off now? The thing was that Howard Webb stepped away from the incident and then blew his whistle after one of our lads kicked the ball."

Despite an opening defeat and a far from impressive performance, Dalglish insisted: "For me it's a fantastic journey this next six months. And if they put as much effort and commitment into the cause as they did today, then they should be alright."

Though Babel was only used as a sub for the final half-hour, failing to ignite storming comeback, it's not hard to feel his pain. Personally, I think the FA probably need to fine the bloke a couple of week's wages.

But to be honest, on a weekend of great football, I suspect some Liverpool fans will be quite happy to see Babel show some passion after a pedestrian display from their side, even if it is only on Twitter.

Before his apology last night, the FA had already announced that they will "definitely look into this matter". No problem. With the 24-year-old currently being linked with Hoffenheim as the January transfer window creaks open, this may be his final act before departing our shores.

And his most memorable one. Good on yer, Ryan Guno Babel. After impressing everyone during Holland's Under 21 Euro triumph five years ago, he's hardly made a splash in a difficult period on Merseyside. Just 12 goals and 91 appearances. But at least you've left a mark. Twit.