It's already Neymar's World Cup, but it's – unfortunately – already the World Cup of the dreaded helper. In fact, yesterday evening, in the first match of the World Cup which was played in the new Arena de Sao Paulo, everything went according to script. Indeed, almost everything. The only unforeseen event was the Croatian advantage, which arrived thanks to an own goal but all in all deservedly so. Then Neymar, the cover man of the event, equalized, who doubled in the second half on a penalty that one shouldn't have problems defining as non-existent.
The expectations of many experts have therefore been fulfilled: the explosion of the Barcelona star, but also some inevitable help to the home team, very fast in predictions and who just wouldn't feel like exiting the World Cup prematurely. Not that Brazil deserved to lose after all: the green-and-gold weren't entirely convinced, but perhaps the fairest result would have been a draw, given that Nico Kovac's men didn't give up until the end.
So Brazil is celebrating, while tonight it's the turn of reigning champions Spain, who are immediately engaged in the big match against the Netherlands. The Spaniards are not indicated by many as aspiring to an encore, but the first game will be able to give indications in this sense. It is played at 21 Italian time, while in the afternoon the other two teams from group A, Cameroon and Mexico, take to the field.
