Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's media on Friday saw Lady Luck as having had a hand in the hosts' World Cup win over Croatia with one news outlet even thanking the Japanese referee for awarding a controversial penalty.

Brazil roared back from Marcelo's own goal and crucially took the lead through Neymar's penalty after Japanese official Yuichi Nishimura judged Croatia defender Dejan Lovren had shoved Fred. That turned the tide as Brazil went on to win the Sao Paulo clash, 3-1, sports daily Lance said.