Brazil eases past Sweden

Just four days after its London final defeat to Mexico, Brazil was back in action and back in the swing of things, restricting its host to precious little opportunities on its way to a comfortable win in a game which was celebrating the life of Brazilian great Garrincha, who spent time playing Sweden.

Although it took until Pato's 84th-minute first to secure the victory, it had been in control ever since Internacional striker Damiao ghosted into the box unmarked with 32 minutes on the clock to glance home and give his side a lead it would never surrender.

That Pato then added a third from the spot only served to add a more fitting look to the scoreline.

Brazil had taken control of proceedings early on, with Chelsea defender David Luiz heading over 14 minutes in and then, with 25 minutes gone, Dani Alves' free-kick scraped narrowly wide.

The breakthrough would come, though, with Neymar - who had already had a goal ruled out for offside - delivering a perfectly-weighted ball for Damiao who did the rest.

Sweden was stirred briefly and could have pulled level just before the break when Marcus Berg broke into the box, only for Gabriel to get off his line quickly and save with his feet.

From the subsequent corner Andreas Granqvist thumped a volley wide, but that was as good as it got for the home side.

After the break Neymar had a run and shot that was blocked and Ramires flicked a header wide, before Damiao scythed through the Sweden defence and narrowly flicked an effort over with the outside of his boot.

Desperate for a sealing second, Neymar whipped a free-kick wide as Brazil probed and its efforts were rewarded six minutes from time when Pato nodded into an open goal after Alves' attempts at trapping the ball went wrong but inadvertently drew the goalkeeper off his line and fed his team-mate.

There was still time for more too, with Pato then tucking home from the spot after he had been felled by Pontus Wernbloom.