MILAN – In the end Brazil got the win the home crowd so badly wanted, but not without a few jitters. After the fanfare of the opening ceremony, Croatia put a dampener on the party mood when they took an 11th-minute lead, Marcelo unlucky to put through his own net. But Neymar then levelled the scores before the break and added a second from the spot following the restart. Oscar stabbed home from outside the box late on to wrap up the points.
Mateo Kovacic started the game for Croatia and played the first hour before being replaced by Brozovic, moments before Hernanes made his entrance as a 63rd-minute substitute for Paulinho.
