[2] Croatia opened the scoring in the 11th minute through a Marcelo own goal, as the ball bounced off him into the net after Nikica Jelavić deflected Ivica Olić's cross.
[4] Post-match, FIFA referees chief Massimo Busacca defended the officials for awarding the penalty and insisted there had been some contact between Lovren and Fred, even if it was minimal.
As the first game played at this World Cup, the match also saw the first use of vanishing spray to mark free kick spots, and the advent of goal-line technology, two innovations introduced during the tournament.
[16] Samuel Eto'o also appeared in his fourth World Cup, joining fellow Cameroonians Jacques Songo'o and Rigobert Song as the only African players to have achieved the feat.
[17] Man of the Match: Giovani dos Santos (Mexico) Assistant referees: Humberto Clavijo (Colombia) Eduardo Díaz (Colombia) Fourth official: Norbert Hauata (Tahiti) Fifth official: Aden Marwa (Kenya) The two teams had met in 38 previous matches, including three times in the FIFA World Cup group stage, all won by Brazil (1950: 4–0; 1954: 5–0; 1962: 2–0).
[20] This was the first time since the 1970 FIFA World Cup that the host team drew 0–0 in the group stage (in the case, the own Mexico, in the opening match of the respective tournament, an 0-0 draw with Soviet Union).
Perišić scored at the beginning of the second half when he intercepted Cameroonian goalkeeper Charles Itandje's goal kick and ran 50 yards before slotting in at the near post.
[34] Man of the Match: Mario Mandžukić (Croatia) Assistant referees: Bertino Cunha (Portugal) Tiago Trigo (Portugal) Fourth official: Walter López (Guatemala) Fifth official: Leonel Leal (Costa Rica) The two teams had met in four previous matches, including in the 1994 FIFA World Cup group stage, won by Brazil 3–0.
[36] Brazil, where a draw would guarantee their qualification to the knockout stage, opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Luiz Gustavo crossed from the left for Neymar to beat the goalkeeper with a first time low side-footed finish to the corner.
[37] Already-eliminated Cameroon equalised when Allan Nyom beat Dani Alves on the left before crossing for Joël Matip to finish from close range.
[38] In the second half David Luiz crossed from the left for Fred to extend Brazil's lead with a close range header before half-time substitute Fernandinho completed the scoring when he collected a pass from Oscar before finishing with a low right footed shot.
The game was goalless for the first 70 minutes, until a Héctor Herrera corner to the back post allowed Rafael Márquez to score from a header, outleaping the Croatian defenders.