Brazil line-up: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio (c), Juan, Bastos, Elano (Alves, 67'), Gilberto, Luis Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho (Ramires, 93')
Ivory Coast line-up: Barry, K.Toure, Zokora, Kalou (Keita, 68'), Tiote, Drogba (c), Dindane (Gervinho, 54'), Tiene, Y.Toure, Demel, Eboue (Romaric, 72')
Certainly a game full of everything: goals, horror tackles, cards, flare-ups and sending offs. An action-packed which Brazil deserved to win as they looked a lot better today than they did aganist North Korea. Brazil went on the attack straight from the start and were 1-0 just after 25 minutes; Kaka a Robinho linking up well and sliding a ball through to Luis Fabiano who smashed from a tight angle and close range, giving Barry no chance. Dindane came closest for the Elephants in the first half but his driven shot was hit straight at Julio Cesar.
If the first seemed a little pedestrian then the second half like Usain Bolt! Five minutes into the second-half Luis Fabiano looked to play some delicious beating at least three men before finishing off his creation in style. However when looking at the replay it was clear Fabiano had imitated Henry and had handballed at least twice. The French referee then even asked him if he hand balled it, hmm I wonder Fabiano replied? both teams threatened more in the second half and Brazil were soon three up; Kaka playing a delicious ball across the box for Elano to nip in and put the game to bed. Unfortunately for Elano his game was brought to a premature end after a horrible tackle from Tiote caught Elano on the shin, forcing him off, somehow Tiote escaped a yellow card. It was from there where the game started to become a little nasty with petulance creeping in from both sides. Gervinho, who should've started in my opinion, provided a great lung-busting run and was denied by a saving tackle from Juan but that led to a cross for Drogba to nod home a consolation for Ivory Coast. The action wasn't over as the hard tackles kept flying in and tempers rose, Tiote finally got booked after another poor tackle, this time on Luis Fabiano. The tempers climaxed into an off the ball incident involving Kaka and Keita; Keita seemed to be running towards Kaka and Kaka stuck out an arm, catching Keita in the chest area. However Keita went down as if he'd been shot and clutching his face. This display of play-acting caused Kaka a second yellow card and Brazil were down to ten for the last few minutes, so Brazil will be without Kaka against Portugal but they should be almost guaranteed to be through.
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