It took all of 70 minutes for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to awash itself in controversy on the field, and boy what a controversy it was thanks to Fred’s pretty obvious dive (have a look for yourself).
Neymar would put home the penalty, just overpowering Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa to the goalkeepers right. That conversion put the host Brazilians up 2-1 and changed the complexion of a game that was pretty entertaining up until that point.
Croatia had been on the front foot for much of the second half up until that point, holding on to a 1-1 tie and hopefully taking a slice out of the Group A favorites. It wasn’t to be though, as we’ll always be left wondering “what if?”
The game ended 3-1 after an Oscar toe-poke goal in the 91st minute, but all the talk is sure to be about Fred’s dive and how the game would’ve played out without that penalty being given.
