SAO PAULO, Brazil, June 13, 2014 (AFP) — Neymar gave
Brazil a winning start to its home World Cup, scoring twice to lead the
host nation to an unconvincing 3-1 victory over Croatia in the opening
game on Thursday.
Brazil had a disastrous
start when defender Marcelo found his own net while trying to clear a
low cross by Ivica Olic in the 11th minute, but Neymar then showed why
the nation’s high hopes are all pinned on him.