Well, we won.

Maybe our performance didn’t please everyone but we played well.  We did exactly what coach Parreira asked us to and we managed to overcome our first obstacle. What really matters is the positive result and all of the group can be proud of this.

A complicating factor was the opening game nervousness which adversely affected our performance. We seemed to be tied down and things didn’t flow like we wanted. But happily this initial tension has now passed and we’re going to loosen up more. A win in the first game gives the group confidence. I’m sure that in Sunday’s game things will happen more like we want them to.

Croatia is a very strong team. The match was very difficult. The marking was very hard. No sooner had we controlled the ball than we had two or three of their players on top of us. But that’s what usually happens. We already knew that the game would be like this and I believe that’s what will happen right up to the final.

Today we have a day off and I’m going to take advantage and rest a bit because the opening game tension ends up wearing you down physically as well. My brother’s here and we were having a long chat when all of a sudden I had a web-cam meeting with my family not to miss them so much.  I heard that everyone gathered in front of the TV at home there in Porto Alegre to watch the match.

A big hug for everyone out there who’s cheering for us.