Host nation Brazil rallied from a goal down to beat Croatia 3-1 in a hugely controversial World Cup opener at the Sao Paulo stadium in Brazil.

In an opening game that gave everything football had to offer, Marcelo opened the scoring with a horrific own goal before Neymar and Oscar rescued the Selecao from a gritty Croatian side.

After a spirited national anthem, part of which was sang by the supporters and which got the entire stadium in an electric mood it was the Croats who drew first blood early on in the 10th minute thanks to Marcelo.

The Real Madrid man in an attempt to clear a teasing low cross from the left tipped the ball into his own net with Cesar completely beaten.

Olich had early on missed a goal scoring opportunity when his header from an immaculate cross on the right whisked just wide.

In the 21st minute it was Neymar who took the game to the European side when he whipped in a cross from the right after superbly outwitting his marker. The cross was half cleared by the Croatian defence but a great curly left strike by Oscar was parried by the Croatian goal keeper.

The stadium then came alive from then on after the opening own goal had sunk the moral of the home supporters with Neymar receiving the opening yellow card of the tournament when he was widely expected to score the opening goal.

The Barcelona forward was quick to respond to his doubting thomases with a terrific left foot from 20 yards to level things up in the 28th minute. The stadium went haywire.

The Barca man proved menacing for most part of the half and was on many occasions either too selfish or had one touch too many in front of goal.

From recess the tempo of the game increased with both sides making incursions but failing to score.

Then in the 69th minute a controversial penalty was awarded to the homeside after a minimal contact from Dejan Lovren saw Fred tumbling in the 18 yard box.

Neymar stepped up and struck it low and hard. The Croatian goal keeper could only parry it into his own net for what would be a brace for the Brazilian star.

There were more controversies to come as Croatia's equaliser was disallowed with the striker adjudged to have fouled Cesar mid air in the six-yard box.

In the 81st minute Oscar deepened the woes of the Croats with a superb solo effort and a little knock on the ball with his toe outside the box.

3-1 it ended in favour of the host nation and in a game in which the Croats will blame the referee for some dodgy  calls.