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
