Brazil 3 Ivory Coast 1

Brazil promised to deliver from the start: Robinho sent a rocket just high in the first minute of the game. After Brazil’s first corner (19’) Robinho’s shot in front of goal was blocked. Brazil’s goal came on 25’, Luis Fabiano shooting high into the net from the right. Ivory Coast’s main threat came on 38’ when Dindane tried a shot, easily gathered by Julio Cesar.

First half: Brazil three corners, Ivory Coast none; Brazil – three shots on target and one goal, Ivory Coast one shot, no goals.

2-0 on 51’ Luis Fabiano again, dancing round three defenders. Ivory Coast tried to attack and on 54’ Drogba headed wide from a good position. Barry saved Kaká’s shot on 62’ and within seconds, Brazil’s number 10 passed inside from the left to Elano. 3-0. Ivory Coast became violent. And we saw that in South Africa 2010 there are two weights and two measures, in favour of African teams: Elano was taken out of the game and nothing happened to the perpetrator. Kaká was sent off for getting two yellow cards for fouls, either one of which was innocuous compared with the leg-breaking tackles being meted out by Ivory Coast players.

On 79’ Drogba got the goal of honour for Ivory Coast, a team which today through their violent football, lost a lost of friends.

FIFA Man of the Match: Luis Fabiano.

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Felipe Melo, M. Bastos, Elano (Dani Alves), G. Silva, L. Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho (Ramires)

Ivory Coast: Barry, Toure Kolo, Zokora, Kalou (Keita), Tiote, Drogba, Dindane (Gervinho), Tiene, Toure Yaya, Demel, Eboue (Romaric)