Having tipped Brazil to win the World Cup I must say their opening performance against Croatia was an anti-climax that highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly in defence. The brightest thing about Thursday evening from the hosts’ point of view was the extraordinary home support, as I saw close up. To watch the match I made a three-hour journey through some of the worst traffic I’ve ever seen into the mountains above Rio de Janeiro, to share the occasion with two former Manchester United team-mates, Da Silva twins Rafa and Fabio. Rio in Rio: Rio Ferdinand (centre) with former team-mates Rafael and Fabio plus friends watching Brazil-Croatia
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Brazil's victory over Croatia was an anti-climax
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Ferdinand watched the match with Fabio and Rafael da Silva
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Brazil were lucky to win and vulnerable defensively
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There are no billboards or posters in Brazil, just people who love football
I got back to @placeholder late, and there were still umpteen impromptu matches being played all along the beach.