Ok, neutral man commenting now, don't really care who win the WC, want to watch good football
Ivory Coast gave Brazil way too much respect, began the game way too timid, though in flashes at times showed what they were capable of. Sven is an overrated coach IMO, his days (if they were ever around) have way passed him, CIV would do better w/someone who can take advtg of their attacking flair while keeping them solid at the back, Sven has done niether IMO, albeit being in charge for 3 months.
Play acting occurred on both sides, difficult to debate. Elano's injury did not seem at first to be intentional on the part of the CIV player, difficult to judge even based on slow motion replay, others at times definitely tried to be cheeky on their tackles on Brazilian players.
Kaka did elbow the CIV player in his chest, did not seem as an attempt to intentionally harm him, more gamesmanship than anything else, the CIV player definitely milked it, Kaka was foolish to flirt w/such gamesmanship being on a yellow, and Dunga is a dunce for leaving him on after he got the first and Brazil were well in command.
Fabiano frankomen handled the ball on two occasions for the 2nd goal after being 1-0 up, was extremely difficult to see in real time, was only vividly apparent on slow motion replay, that being said the officials are in charge and should have caught at least one handball, after the goal the ref seemed to joke around w/Fabiano pointing to his arm and chest, suggesting that he (the ref) knew what happened but did not call, which would be unimaginable. Interestingly, no protest whatsoever from the Ivorians. Men who claiming that 2nd goal did not change the course of the game are not only arm chair coaches (as we all are), but have never played the game at a competitve level or have quickly forgotten, big difference being 1-0 down in the 2nd half to Brazil where some iota of you thinks you have a chance of equallizing to mighty Brazil vs 2-0 down where that iota has slipped to negligible, you could see the shoulders of most (if not all) Ivorian players dropping thereafter
Better side def won on the day, not sure how football (FIFA etc) addreeses play acting, it's a seeming norm in the game today, and will continue for a while until some prudent measure becomes part of officiating. Hopefully, both Brazil and CIV get through, the latter def have more to offer to the WC and could count themselves unlucky being in groups of deaths at consectutive WCs (2006 and now 2010).....
