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Live blog: Today at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, featuring the opening ceremony and Brazil v Croatia

THE World Cup is under way, as Brazil pushed its issues aside to launch the world’s biggest football carnival in controversial style.

Cameron TomarchioCameron Tomarchio
@cam_tomarchio
4 min read
June 13, 2014 - 8:43AM
US singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
US singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.

LIVE coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

Every day we follow the Socceroos on their World Cup journey. Plus all the highlights from Brazil, the latest breaking FIFA World Cup news, the best goals, the results and the real stories behind the scenes of the World Cup.

MORE: Try our World Cup predictor

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MORE: The idiot’s guide to the FIFA World Cup

9.30am - CROATIA COACH BLOWS UP OVER PENALTY

CROATIA coach Niko Kovac has blasted the Japanese referee in his side’s 3-1 defeat to Brazil, saying he was “out of his depth” after a bitterly disputed penalty changed the course of the World Cup opener.

With the score at 1-1 and Croatia holding its own in the second half, referee Yuichi Nishimura pointed to the spot after Fred backed into Croatian defender Dejean Lovren and fell.

“If anybody saw that was a penalty, let them raise their hand. I cannot raise my hand. I didn’t see it,” said Kovac.

“If you continue in this vein then there will be 100 penalties during this World Cup.”

Kovac branded the spot kick award “ridiculous”, saying he blamed himself for not saying during Wednesday’s press conference that he would be “keeping a beady eye on the referee”.

MORE: Angry world screams ‘that was no penalty’

Fred of Brazil was accused of diving in a controversial moment that earned his side a penalty in the 2014 World Cup opener against Croatia.
Fred of Brazil was accused of diving in a controversial moment that earned his side a penalty in the 2014 World Cup opener against Croatia.

8.00am - CONTROVERSY MARS WORLD CUP OPENER

BRAZIL superstar Neymar scored a double as Brazil secured a controversial 3-1 win against Croatia in the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Neymar’s first came via a long-range strike just before the half-hour mark, and his second a penalty in the 71st.

The controversy surrounded Neymar’s second, with Brazil striker Fred accused of diving to earn the penalty.

Oscar made it three when he threaded the needle moments before full-time.

Brazil got off to a shocking start, with Marcelo scoring an own goal to give Croatia a 1-0 lead in Sao Paulo.

Marcelo’s moment of horror came in the 11th minute when he diverted Ivica Olic’s cross past Julio Cesar in the Brazil goal.

MATCH REPORT: BRAZIL v CROATIA

WORST WORLD CUP REFEREEING DECISIONS

Brazil's Neymar celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Group A 2014 World Cup match and Croatia in Sao Paulo.
Brazil's Neymar celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Group A 2014 World Cup match and Croatia in Sao Paulo.
Brazil's Neymar, right, shoots from long range to score his side’s first goal against Croatia.
Brazil's Neymar, right, shoots from long range to score his side’s first goal against Croatia.
Brazil’s Marcelo watches on in horror as his own goal gives Croatia an early lead in the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match.
Brazil’s Marcelo watches on in horror as his own goal gives Croatia an early lead in the 2014 FIFA World Cup opening match.

7.40am - CHILE STAR CLEARED AHEAD OF ‘FINAL’ WITH SOCCEROOS

COACH Jorge Sampaoli made 17 million Chileans happy on Friday by declaring star player Arturo Vidal fit for Saturday’s World Cup “final” with Australia.

Vidal’s presence could be vital as an opening win in Cuiaba would put either side in a position to challenge Group B giants Spain, the reigning champions, and the Netherlands for qualification.

The 28-year-old Juventus midfielder’s participation was in jeopardy after struggling with an inflammation to his right knee following surgery on a meniscus problem last month.

But allaying a nation’s fears, Sampaoli disclosed that the dead-ball specialist’s troubles were behind him.

“This story’s over I think. The physio’s done a marvellous job, Vidal’s diagnosis is clear, there’s a high chance he’ll play.”

Key Chile player Arturo Vidal is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday morning’s World Cup clash against Australia.
Key Chile player Arturo Vidal is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday morning’s World Cup clash against Australia.

THOUSANDS of people have shouted an obscene message to Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at the opening match of the World Cup.

Minutes before kick-off of the match between Brazil and Croatia, Rousseff, who is up for re-election in October, was greeted by fans with cries of “Ei, Dilma, vai tomar no culo!” – which roughly translates as “Hey Dilma, go f*** yourself!”

Rousseff is battling to reverse widespread discontent over Brazil’s faltering economy and the record $US11 billion ($A11.9 billion) it spent on the World Cup, which critics say should have been used for education, health, housing and transport.

Construction workers hold a poster that reads in Portuguese "Construction workers fight too, we support the fight of Sao Paulo's Metro workers". Demonstrators shouted slogans against Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff and the World Cup.
Construction workers hold a poster that reads in Portuguese "Construction workers fight too, we support the fight of Sao Paulo's Metro workers". Demonstrators shouted slogans against Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff and the World Cup.

ENORMOUS non-World Cup news – but still with football – with Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.

6.45am - LIGHTS OUT AT SAO PAULO STADIUM

THERE was a small scare in the opening game between Brazil and Croatia, as the lights went out in the top half of the stadium.

6.45am - CLASHES, TEAR GAS AS WORLD CUP OPENS

POLICE have fired tear gas and rubber bullets as protests broke out just hours before Sao Paulo hosted the opening game of the World Cup in Brazil.

Anarchist demonstrators menacingly dressed in black shirts and masks lit bonfires of rubbish in the city after armoured police sought to quell protests ahead of Brazil’s match with Croatia. The clashes came as the eyes of the sporting world turned to Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena, where 12 heads of state or government were among VIPs in a 61,600 crowd gathered for the start of the month-long football extravaganza.

Youths hold a banner reading "Brazil 2014 - they water the grass with the blood of the poor" as they demonstrate in solidarity with the poor of Brazil and call for a boycott of the FIFA World Cup.
Youths hold a banner reading "Brazil 2014 - they water the grass with the blood of the poor" as they demonstrate in solidarity with the poor of Brazil and call for a boycott of the FIFA World Cup.

6.40am - CRISTIANO RONALDO LEAVES TRAINING EARLY

HUGE scare for Portugal, with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo leaving training early with an ice pack on his knee.

More on Cristiano Ronaldo’s injury here.

6.00am - SPINE-TINGLING RENDITION OF NATIONAL ANTHEM

THE opening match between Brazil and Croatia began with a stirring rendition of the national anthem. FIFA only allows 90 seconds of the national anthem, so when the music cut out the fans kept going. Watch the national anthem.

Brazil stars David Luiz (L), Julio Cesar and Thiago Silva (R) sing the national anthem before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match against Croatia.
Brazil stars David Luiz (L), Julio Cesar and Thiago Silva (R) sing the national anthem before the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match against Croatia.

5.30am - WORLD CUP KICKS OFF IN STYLE

WITH all of the issues and questions leading up to the World Cup, Sao Paulo’s Itaquerao Stadium shined under blue skies as Brazil kicked off its home World Cup with a football-style carnival.

US singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
US singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.

Jennifer Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian pop star Claudia Leitte bounced around a giant stage resembling a peeled melon singing “We Are One” on Brazil’s Valentine’s Day.

Brazil is ready to samba, and plans to teach the world to join in for the coming month during football’s showcase tournament.

The football-crazed country hoped Friday’s (EST) Croatia-Brazil opener would just be the start of a run to extend its record to six World Cup wins.

The field was covered in for the opening ceremony, which cost $8 million, or about $18 million Brazilian reais.

– with wire agencies

Singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in Sao Paulo.
Singer Jennifer Lopez performs during the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte performs during the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo.
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo, prior to the opening match.
Performers take part in the opening ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Sao Paulo, prior to the opening match.
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