David Davutovic: Neymar the star but workmanlike Brazil have the look of a champion team

IT may not have been convincing but David Davutovic was still impressed by Brazil in the World Cup opener. And, of course, there was Neymar.

Brazil's forward Neymar (R) celebrates with his teammate defender David Luiz 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

IT wasn’t convincing but Brazil’s 3-1 win over Croatia had the hallmarks of a champion team.

Selecao and its latest global phenomenon, Neymar, sounded a warning to their 31 World Cup rivals with a 3-1 win over an opponent that would have given any team a run for its money.

HOW IT HAPPENED: our live blog of the action.

OPENING CEREMONY: all the pics and colour

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Neymar gave the home-town fans a real treat.

The refereeing turned out to be the opening game’s biggest talking point after Yuichi Nishimura awarded a soft penalty when Fred went down under a Dejan Lovren challenge, which Neymar converted for his second.

Oscar then put the result beyond doubt with a stoppage time toe-poke after Croatia committed numbers forward in search of an equaliser.

But while Brazil only displayed its best in patches, their attitude in front of 62,103 fans at Arena Corinthians was workmanlike.

When Neymar equalised in the 29th minute, 10 players sprinted to celebrate with the Brazilian bench.

Only Thiago Silva - who, along with defensive partner David Luiz, was described by Croatian coach Niko Kovac as “concrete” - stayed in the centre circle preventing a quick kick-off.

Oscar put the game beyond doubt.

As the players slowly returned to position, Thiago gestured to his teammates to settle down and focus.

And after a nervy start, Brazil was away, and with 2002 World Cup winner Felipe Scolari in charge, they have the right man leading this team that’s young in terms of age but has ample caps under their collective belts.

There were no surprises in the respective XI’s, but both coaches reshuffled their attacking thirds.

Neymar, who usually starts on the left, played through the centre with Oscar moving right and Hulk starting wide left in a 4-2-3-1.

With Bayern Munich’s Mario Mandzukic suspended, Hull City’s Nikica Jelavic led the Croatia line with Ivica Olic and Ivan Perisic switching flanks.

And it was Kovac’s move that paid first dividends when Olic took advantage of his adventurous opponent Dani Alves to burst down the left.

Luka Modric did a great job in the Crotia midfield.

His low cross was met by Jelavic, who got a faint touch and with little time to react, left-back Marcelo turned the ball into his own net.

Brazil was rattled. But they rolled their sleeves up and kept working.

Scolari’s Neymar switch was paying off, as his roaming license caused Croatia problems all over the park.

Croatia was too slow to close the brilliant striekr for his first goal - a 20-metre strike - but thereafter his ability to skip players and beat them with sheer speed left their opponents frustrated and led to a Vedran Corluka booking for a cynical foul.

But as the tempo slowed in the second half, Real Madrid’s Luka Modric began dictating the play in midfield.

And just like Brazil’s first goal when Jelavic had a header saved moments earlier, Croatia had a chance moments before the counter that led to Oscar’s sealer.

Kovac said the World Cup could descend into farce if such officiating continues “I think we deserved a point, I’m proud of the boys,’’ Kovac said.

“Two billion people could see it was not a penalty. This was ridiculous today and if we continue this way we will have a circus.

“If that’s a penalty, we don’t need to play football anymore. We better give it up now and go home. Let’s play basketball instead.”

Davutovic’s man of the match

Neymar (Brazil)

A constant threat for the Croats, playing in the No.10 position, and this display will give him confidence to spearhead Brazil for the rest of the tournament.

Originally published as David Davutovic: Neymar the star but workmanlike Brazil have the look of a champion team