Brazil gives first indication it can win Cup

It handed Croatia a 3-1 loss in the first match of the Cup

Brazil's Neymar celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AAP via AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

13 June 2014 2:23pm

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Brazil has ridden a wave of national excitement to launch the World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Croatia in Sao Paulo.

Barcelona superstar Neymar scored in each half as Brazil recovered from conceding an early Marcelo own goal to set up a win before hordes of golden-shirted fans at the 61,600 Corinthians Arena.

Chelsea midfielder Oscar put the seal on the win with a late strike.

A largely free-flowing tournament-opener was shrouded in controversy, with Brazil getting a dubious penalty when Croatia defender Dejan Lovren was harshly ruled to have shoved Fred over.

The hosts, chasing a record sixth World Cup, had also enjoyed a degree of good fortune in the first half when Neymar received only a yellow card for elbowing Croatia’s playmaker Luka Modric.

Moments later Neymar scored Brazil’s equaliser to settle home nerves after Marcelo’s 11th-minute own goal.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva epitomised the mood, bellowing a rallying cry to his team-mates as they embarked on their quest to earn first title on home soil.

Source: AFP