If opening games are anything to go by, then we could be in for a cracker of a World Cup.
The hosts went behind after seven minutes when Marcelo turned a cross into his own net - a goal which was met with stunned silence by the crowd before Neymar answered with a first-half equalizer, and a dive in the box from striker Fred led to the go-ahead goal in the second half on a Neymar penalty kick.
Oscar then added some security in extra time, and Brazil is back on track at the head of Group A.
It could have been worse for Brazil when Neymar clashed with Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, but referee Yuichi Nishimura only produced a yellow card.
In the end, it was a narrow victory for Brazil, but one they'll hope to build on if they can shrug off some of the immense pressure they're under. It was significant before, and despite the win, it may now get worse given the manner of their victory.
A referee in Maranhao, Brazil, last Sunday is reported to have been decapitated after stabbing one of the players.
The Public Safety Department of the state of Maranhao, in Brazil, said in a statement that the horrific incident began when referee Otavio da Silva, 20, sent off 30-year-old Josenir Abreu.
Santos Abreu is believed to have argued and then struck the referee after being unhappy with a decision. It is believed the referee was carrying a knife throughout the match and fatally stabbed the player in retaliation.
Santos Abreu was rushed to hospital but died from injuries on the way.
Enraged spectators invaded a football field, stoned the referee to death and quartered his body after he stabbed a player to death.
Police have arrested one suspect after last weekend’s incident and are looking for two others.
Spokesman Valter Costa was quoted as saying: ‘We will identify and hold accountable all those involved in this incident.
‘One crime will never justify another. Actions like this do not correspond with state law.’
Brazil has humbled world and European Champions Spain with a crushing 3-0 win in the Confederations Cup final, ending their opponents’ three-year record run of 29 unbeaten competitive matches.
Fred scored two goals and Neymar added another as host Brazil convincingly defeated world champion Spain 3-0 to win the Confederations Cup on Sunday at the Maracana Stadium.
Brazil got off to a brilliant start when a long ball into the Spanish box was misplayed by defender Álvaro Arbeloa, he actually brought the ball down with a handball — knocked the ball down onto Fred’s foot who was lying on the ground in front of Iker Casillas. The ball ended up right on Fred’s foot as the Fluminense striker lifted the ball up and over Casillas to give the Seleção a 1-0 lead in the 2nd minute.
Neymar added to the lead just before halftime and Fred netted his fifth goal in five matches early in the second half to give Brazil victory. The win for the host nation was surprisingly easy against the current world champion.
Sunday’s performance marks what has been an impressive tournament for the Brazilians. With their home crowd behind them, they’re already favorites to win next summer’s big show.
More than 500 people blocked access to a stadium where Brazil was to play Mexico on Wednesday to demand government spend more on health and education and less on the World Cup.
"Brazil, we are going to wake up, a professor is worth more than Neymar," they shouted, referring to a popular star of the national team.
Brazil is currently hosting the Confederations Cup as a warm-up for next year's football World Cup, but hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in recent days to denounce the events' $15 billion price-tag.
"While you watch television, I am changing the country. Football no, we want education," read one placard.
Brazil, which trounced Japan in the Confederations Cup opening game in Brasilia Saturday, was to face Mexico in the $240 million Novo Castelao arena in the northeastern city of Fortaleza later Wednesday.
"We are protesting the use of public funds for the construction of stadiums, money that should be used for education," said 18-year-old Matheus Dantas, amid a sea of Brazilian flags.
"For now all is quiet, we are not going to intervene," a policeman said.
The protesters also railed against the country's political class, which is widely seen as corrupt.
Crack federal police units of the National Force are boosting security in the six cities hosting Confederations Cup matches during the tournament, which runs through June 30, according to the justice ministry.
