FIFA World Cup 2014: Twitter traffic 12 million in World Cup opener

Paris: Hosts Brazil's controversial 3-1 win over Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup generated massive Twitter traffic with more than 12.2 million tweets, the social network site said.

According to Twitter — who have 255 million users around the world — tweeters from more than 150 countries participated in the exchanges. Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura featured in many posts following his decision to award a penalty despite there being no evident contact between Brazil striker Fred and Croatian centreback Dejan Lovren.

It isn't the first time that a Croatia game at a World Cup finals has attracted the wrong type of headlines for the referee. Englishman Graham Poll managed to book Croat Josip Simunic three times in their group game at the 2006 finals with Australia before finally sending him off.

Poll, nevertheless, took to Twitter to express his opinion of Nishimura's decision. "Very soft penalty. People say big teams get the big decisions. That's a prime example. Not a penalty for me," tweeted Poll. However, 50-year-old Poll was kinder when Oscar scored a late goal to make the scoreline 3-1.

"Quality goal to finish the game. Ref will be relieved and I think he get another game. One mistake not 3!" Oscar's Chelsea team-mate Belgian star Eden Hazard also got in on the act from his country's World Cup finals training camp. "Congratulation to my bro @oscar11 for your goal".