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ITV's online viewing service has been hit by problems during the opening match of the World Cup. Football fans complained that ITV Player went down during the game between Brazil and Croatia tonight. Responding to a barrage of criticism on Twitter, the service said on its feed: "We're seeing unprecedented numbers of users during the game.
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"We apologise for any inconvenience, we're working hard to resume normal service." Several users vented their frustration on the microblogging site. Andrew Smith wrote: "Is everyone else's ITV Player down too? Get it sorted!" Chris O'Callaghan said: "ITV player, why have you betrayed me?!" Claire Kitson tweeted: "ITV Player congratulations on picking the worst time to do maintenance on your website! Would it have killed you to wait 15 minutes?"
An ITV spokeswoman said: "Due to unprecedented numbers of users during this game we are currently experiencing some technical problems with our live coverage via ITV Player on PC/Mac. We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused."
The broadcaster came under fire during the last World Cup in 2010 when more than a million viewers missed England's opening goal at the tournament in South Africa. Viewers were left furious when ITV1 HD switched to an advert followed by a blank screen as Steven Gerrard scored in the fourth minute against the USA.
Brazil 3-1 Croatia
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Brazil's goalkeeper Julio Cesar (L) and defender Marcelo look on after a goal of Croatia during their Group A football match at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / POOL / FABRIZIO BENSCH (Photo credit should read FABRIZIO BENSCH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's defender Marcelo reacts during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Croatia's midfielder Ivan Perisic (R) celebrates a goal as Brazil's defender Marcelo (C) and goalkeeper Julio Cesar look on, during their Group A football match at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / POOL / FABRIZIO BENSCH (Photo credit should read FABRIZIO BENSCH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(04 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring his second goal on a penalty kick in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar is mobbed by teammates including Brazil's defender David Luiz (R/#4) as he celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE (Photo credit should read PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(06 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring his second goal on a penalty kick in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(07 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring his second goal on a penalty kick in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (L) celebrates with his teammate Brazil's midfielder Hernanes after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE (Photo credit should read PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(10 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil (R) celebrates his second goal with Hernanes in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin Cox/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (R) celebrates with his teammate Brazil's midfielder Hernanes after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (C) kisses the ball after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / VANDERLEI ALMEIDA (Photo credit should read VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(16 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring his second goal on a penalty kick in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin Cox/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE (Photo credit should read PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (R) and Brazil's midfielder Hernanes (L) celebrate after Neymar scored a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Fred celebrates after forward Neymar scored from the penalty spot the second goal against Croatia during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group A football match at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a penalty during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT (Photo credit should read FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(22 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Neymar of Brazil runs to the sideline to celebrate with his team after scoring in the first half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Fabrizio Bensch - Pool/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a goal during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Croatia's goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa (R) reacts next to Brazil's forward Fred (C) who celebrates after forward Neymar (out of frame) scored from the penalty spot his second goal, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Group A football match at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (L) Brazil's forward Fred (C-back) and Brazil's midfielder Luiz Gustavo (R) celebrate after Brazil scored a goal during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN (Photo credit should read ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Brazil's forward Neymar (L) celebrates scoring with his teammate Brazil's defender Marcelo during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(27 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Oscar of Brazil shoots and scores against Dejan Lovren of Croatia in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(28 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: Oscar of Brazil shoots and scores against Dejan Lovren of Croatia in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Kevin Cox/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Brazil v Croatia: Group A - 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil(29 of29)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - JUNE 12: David Luiz of Brazil celebrates with teammates after a goal by Oscar in the second half during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Brazil and Croatia at Arena de Sao Paulo on June 12, 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)