Beiruting News

That a game for Brazil in their own World Cup should end with the opposition goalkeeper emerging as the runaway man of the match should perhaps surprise nobody. This was certainly some night for a curly-hurled guy from Mexico called Guillermo Ochoa.

Nevertheless, this was a night that told us something more about the host nation as they look to seek a coronation in front of their own people this summer. This is a Brazil team that will need to improve significantly if it is not to stumble when the stakes grow higher later in the tournament.

Luiz Felipe Scolari's team should certainly reach phase two now. This was a draw that actually suited both teams pretty well, even if the 55,000 Brazilians packed in to the Estadio Castelao went home feeling less than sated.