Image source, Getty Images

I think it is fair to say that under any review system Croatia coach Niko Kovac would have set a video official to work on referee Yuichi Nishimura's decision to award a penalty for Dejan Lovren's challenge on Brazil striker Fred.

"I don't think anybody, anywhere in the stadium saw this as a penalty," he said afterwards.

"If you continue like this you will have 100 penalties. I think 2.5bn people watching on TV saw this was not a penalty.

"This was ridiculous and if we continue in this way we will have a circus.

"Fred is an 85kg man and I don't believe he can be brought to the ground in such a manner.

"I cannot blame Fred at all - everyone tries it on, like it or not, this is part and parcel of football. What I want is for referees to stick to the laws of the game and apply them equally to both teams."

In tennis each player is allowed three unsuccessful challenges each set using the Hawk-Eye system.

Under Test cricket's Decision Review System each team is allowed to send two decisions upstairs each innings, with only unsuccessful referrals being taken off their quota.

In American football each coach starts with two challenges in their back pocket, getting to chuck a red flag onto the field to activate them.

So is it time that football adopted a similar system? The coaches get to refer the most contentious decisions to a video official in the stands and the game is allowed to flow under the referee's eye for the rest of the time. A happy compromise? Fifa president Sepp Blatter thinks it is.

Your views are welcome on #bbcworldcup , externalon Twitter, on 81111 on text and the BBC Sport Facebook page. , external

Don't believe us that Brazil got lucky? Read our football reporter Ben Smith's account of all the thrills and spills from Sao Paolo, and then judge for yourself. Click the shiny blue 'Highlights' tab at the top of this page and watch exactly what you would expect to see on such a tab - like, er, highlights.

Image source, Reuters

Over the next couple of hours, as the UK wakes from its slumber, we will be recapping on last night's action before looking ahead to today's trio of tantalising treats later on.

So, there is only one name to start with - and that is Neymar. The poster boy of Brazil's World Cup didn't always shine during his first season with Spanish giants Barcelona, but boy does he know how to turn on the style for his country. He's like John Barnes - a world-beater for Liverpool, but not quite the same for England - in reverse.

After Croatia silenced a whole nation by taking an early lead through Marcelo's own goal, the 22-year-old dragged them level with a daisy-cutter before converting a very dubious penalty to turn the match in the Selecao's favour. Chelsea star Oscar, who also had a very fine game, put gloss on the scoreline.

But first, let's spell out what is happening today on day two of the World Cup...

06:00-09:00 BST: World Cup Breakfast (BBC Radio 5 live)

13:30-15:00 BST: Rio Report (BBC Radio 5 live)

16:00-01:00 BST: Text/audio commentary of all matches (BBC Sport website)

16:00-19:10 BST: Mexico v Cameroon (ITV and BBC Radio 5 live)

19:30-22:10 BST: Spain v Netherlands (BBC and BBC Radio 5 live)

22:35-01:15 BST: Chile v Australia (ITV and BBC Radio 5 live)

If you didn't flick on the television to watch J-Lo grinding away inside a giant football, then you didn't miss much. But if you sloped off to bed early doors last night, or - god forbid - got dragged out by your partner for a meal with the in-laws, then you missed a footballing treat.

Neymar stole the show as Brazil came from behind to open the World Cup with a 3-1 victory, external over Croatia in Sao Paulo, but the match turned on a controversial penalty. More of that later....

Image source, Getty Images

Oh, yes it was. For a long while, Croatia looked set to be party-poopers in Sao Paulo and threatened to add their name to the likes of Belgium (1982), Cameroon (1990) and Senegal (2002) as reference points for World Cup opening-day shocks.

After weeks, months - no, years - of mouth-watering build-up, the first day of the 2014 World Cup did not disappoint. The opener had twists and turns, drama and dodgy decisions - and that was just Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull's pre-kick-off performance....

Image source, Reuters

Playing at home can be a precious commodity in football. Seeing that familiar friendly face guarding the players' entrance as you arrive. Feeling that warm glow of your own changing room before kick-off. Hearing the hum of thousands of your fervent fans willing you to win as you step out on to the pitch.

Oh, and getting the odd refereeing decision to swing the game in your favour. Host nation Brazil benefitted from all of these - particularly some generous officiating - as they began the 2014 World Cup with a bang. Victory over Croatia was never in doubt, was it?