Referee Yuichi Nishimura (C) of Japan gestures for a penalty during the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo Cheap Nike Air Max 1 Wholesale , June 12, 2014. [PhotoAgencies] Brazil's David Luiz (L) and Brazil's Neymar celebrate during the 2014 World Cup opening match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo, June 12, 2014. [PhotoAgencies] Brazil's Oscar (L) fights for the ball with Croatia's Ivan Rakitic during the 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo, June 12, 2014. [PhotoAgencies] Brazil's Neymar celebrates his goal against Croatia during their 2014 World Cup opening match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo Cheap Nike Air Max 97 Wholesale , June 12, 2014. [PhotoAgencies]
SAO PAULO - Among the many reasons Brazil is favored by many to win its sixth World Cup - such as unmatched offensive firepower - is the benefit of playing on home soil, where a crowd can lift emotions and referees tend to be influenced by the intense environment.


Thursday's World Cup opener offered examples of both, most notably in the 71st minute, when referee Yuichi Nishimura fell for a blatant, in-the-penalty-box dive by Brazilian forward Fred.


Rather than play on Cheap Nike Air Max 95 Wholesale , Nishimura awarded Brazil a penalty kick that star forward Neymar delivered on moments later. It gave Brazil a 2-1 lead over the Croatians and changed the course of the game. Brazil added a third score late to take the 3-1 victory, leaving Croatia with little to do but vehemently complain about that call, among many.


"If that’s a penalty, then we can just stop playing football right now," said Croatian coach Niko Kovac, suggesting biased officiating could be a tournament long problem. "…It's ridiculous. If we continue in this way Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Wholesale , we will have a circus. …If that’s how we start the World Cup, then we may as well give up and go home now."


The result satisfied the rowdy 68,000-plus fans, most clad in Brazilian yellow, who provided a charged atmosphere as the home team began a quest for a sixth World Cup while hosting the event for the first time since 1950. While street protests over government spending and FIFA demands raged in other parts of the city and fans inside Arena de Sao Paulo chanted vulgarities at Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, this was mostly a night to celebrate the game that this country is so passionate about.


Neymar's penalty kick Cheap Nike Air Max Wholesale , which Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa deflected but couldn't keep out of the net, set up Brazil for the come-from-behind victory.