What better way to open the 2014 World Cup than with a dive? With hosts Brazil drawing 1-1 with Croatia in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup, Fred was the man to oblige. With his back to goal, the striker received little more than a finger on the shoulder from Croatian defender Dejan Lovren. Fred, though, flung himself backwards and won his team a penalty. Brazilian whiz-kid Neymar duly converted it, just, and the hosts would eventually go on to win the match 3-1. Afterwards Croatia manager Niko Kovac said that Brazil may as well be presented with the trophy straight away if referees continued to be so biased towards them. In truth, the dive was not as shocking as many others but it was a shame that the tournament had to begin with a moment of controversy.
