Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Brazil waited for the World Cup for years. They spent billions building stadiums and preparing for the big day.

Finally, the big party has begun.

-Football World Cup

The hosts made a winning start to their campaign, after a colourful opening ceremony at the Arena de Sao Paulo, beating Croatia 3-1.

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Thousands of Brazilian fans flocked Fan Fests in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to watch the match against Croatia.

Thanks to two goals from Neymar and a third from Oscar, the hosts rallied from an own-goal to victory.

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Croatian fans were saddened and disappointed after their team’s loss.

They were furious with the Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura for giving Brazil a penalty.

"It's a pity, the referee ruined us!" said a bitter Goran Vlahic, 28, as he was leaving the square with his girlfriend.

"I'll never eat sushi again," added Goran.

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Thousands of fans watched the match in cafes across Croatia. Many supporters gathered at Zagreb's main square.

Nearly all were dressed in Croatia's distinctive red and white squared shirts and watched the match on a 52-square metre screen above an improvised stage.

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The Croatian papers labelled the clash as the "biggest match in Croatia's history". Indeed, the country is gripped by World Cup fever.

In Zagreb's main square up to two million people are expected to pass through a giant 'Fan Zone' to watch the games over the next month.

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Fans and humour are a part and parcel of the 'Beautiful Game'. There was full evidence of it in the opening match.