Neymar lit the fireworks for Brazil’s
World Cup party to begin in earnest
after inspiring victory for the host
nation in the tournament’s opening
match against Croatia.
Neymar, Brazil’s Barcelona talisman,
proved the key for the 3-1 victory in
a sparkling – and controversial –
match that may well set the tone for
a World Cup of thrills and skills.
Each Brazil goal, two scored by
Neymar – the second after a
dubious penalty won by Fred – and a
third by Oscar was greeted by a
flurry of fireworks bursting across
the Sao Paulo skyline.
Croatia had had the impertinence to
take the game to the hosts – and
score first courtesy of an own goal
by Marcelo but the drive of Brazil not
to fail on such an occasion proved
decisive.
This was a game brimming with
breathtaking technical skill, and not
just from Brazil.
All eyes had been on the green and
gold shirts in the days beforehand,
but inspired by Luka Modric, it was
those in red and white checks who
had by far the better of the opening
exchanges.
Croatia, displaying their own
technical gifts, gave fair warning
when Ivan Perisic’s perceptive cross
was met by his Wolfsburg team-
mate Ivica Olic with a powerful
downward header. Brazil held its
collective breath but it bounced up
past the angle.
That relief turned to dismay in the
11th minute as Olic took advantage
of some wide open space down the
left to fire in a cross that nicked off
Nikica Jelavic’s instep and bounced
off the bewildered Marcelo to roll into
the net.
This started to look serious: Brazil,
the only country to play in every
World Cup, were in danger of
becoming the first host nation to lose
their opening match unless it raised
its game.
As it turned out, the shock of going
behind was electrifying. Brazil began
to attacked with gusto, Neymar’s
wonderful feet at the centre of the
action.
The influence of Chelsea’s Oscar
began to grow, and his dangerous
cross hung temptingly in the air but
Neymar’s acrobatic attempt failed to
make the right contact.
Oscar then tried himself, bringing a
terrific save from Stipe Pletikosa as
the ball seemed to be curling into his
top right-hand corner.
It was time for Neymar to take
centre stage, after being only booked
for what looked a forearm smash on
Modric, he struck the equaliser in the
29th minute. Oscar was deeply
involved in the build-up and though it
may not have been the cleanest
strike Neymar has ever hit, his shot
went through the legs of a defender
and in off the post.
The darkening skies around the
Arena Corinthians lit up as a nation
celebrated.
Croatia’s touch deserted them, the
task suddenly seemed too daunting,
and there was a heady air of
expectation among the home fans.
Into the second half and Brazil took a
more patient approach, putting
Croatia under increasing pressure.
Dani Alves fired a free-kick too high
after Vedran Corluka had crudely
chopped down Neymar, then Oscar
picked out David Luiz but he couldn’t
keep his header down.
Then came the controversy. Fred
manoeuvred for the ball in the
Croatia penalty area, and
Southampton centre-back Dejan
Lovren laid barely a finger on his
shoulder for the Brazil striker to fling
himself down. Japanese referee
Yuichi Nishimura awarded the
softest of spot-kicks, dispatched by
Neymar despite Pletikosa getting his
fingers to it.
Croatia tried to respond, and had the
ball in the net only for Olic to be
penalised for a hefty challenge on
keeper Julio Cesar, and it was left to
Oscar to surprise Pletikosa with a
steered finish with the toe of his boot
to send the hosts into raptures.
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