NEYMAR WATCH: Clockwatch on the Brazil star's eventful night as he scores twice against Croatia after coming close to red card for elbow

The whole of Brazil - and most of the planet - expect him to be the superstar of this summer's World Cup.
And Neymar certainly lived up to his billing with an action-packed performance as the hosts beat Croatia 3-1 on opening night in Sao Paulo.
There were two goals, including a penalty that was nearly saved, a yellow card that could well have been a red, and no end of driving runs, flicks and grimaces of pain.
Here's Neymar's night in words and pictures.

Oh, what a night! Neymar celebrates after scoring the second of his goals on an eventful evening as Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in the World Cup opener

The time has come: Neymar's No 10 shirt and the rest of his equipment laid out in the Brazil dressing room ahead of the World Cup opener

Bright: Neymar's boots, complete with his name and national flag printed on the side

Star attraction: Neymar shirts on offer on a street in Campinas, Sao Paulo prior to the match

8.15pm There is a rapturous cheer as Neymar and his Brazilian teammates take to the field at the Arena de Sao Paulo for their pre-match warm-up.
The capacity crowd have already been entertained by Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and dozens of other performers in the opening ceremony and are now in the mood for some football as the eagerly-awaited tournament gets underway.
As ever, Neymar shows his faith by pointing to the heavens as he steps over the touchline.

Neymar: I hope to fulfill the dreams of all Brazilians

Heavenly: Neymar points to the skies as he jogs on to the field for the warm-ups

8.35pm Joy soon turns to concern, however, as Neymar starts hobbling around mid-way through the warm-up routine.
It looks, for a terrifying few seconds, as if his World Cup could be over before it's even begun.
But with the aid of Dani Alves, he's quickly back up on his feet and completing his stretches. The nation breathes a huge sigh of relief.

Neymar and Marcelo showboating and goals in World Cup training

Crisis averted: Neymar holds his hamstring after hobbling a little during the warm-up and stretches with Dani Alves

On the ball: Neymar stretches off alongside his Barcelona teammate Alves before kick-off

8.55pm Having pulled on his No 10 shirt, Neymar is last out in the line of Brazil players to emerge into an electric atmosphere.
Like every one of his teammates, he sings the national anthem with gusto. The world Cup has finally arrived for Brazil.

0min Neymar and Fred have the privilege of kicking off the 2014 World Cup.

Hero worship: Neymar's picture appears on the big screen at the Arena de Sao Paulo as the team line-ups are announced

Loud and proud: Neymar and Dani Alves belt out the Brazilian national anthem

Jump for joy: Leaping high above the mascot after the national anthems have been sung

Big kick-off: Neymar and Fred prepare to get the 2014 World Cup under way

6min Brazil's first chance of note as Vedran Corluka fouls Hulk wide on the left. Neymar is straight over to take it and delivers a deep ball which Tiago Silva meets at the back post, nodding it down to David Luiz.
The Chelsea man can only tamely head it into the arms of Stipe Pletikosa in the Croatian goal.

11min Brazil 0-1 Croatia - Unbelievable scenes as Croatia stun everyone by taking the lead. Olic crosses low from the left wing and Nikica Jelavic diverts the ball into the path of Marcelo who taps it into his own goal. 

Head over heels: Neymar rolls over on his back during the opening exchanges

Surrounded: Neymar is confronted by Darijo Srna and Luka Modric as he attempts to slalom through the Croatian defence

14min Neymar with his first real sniff of goal as Oscar leads a Brazilian assault down the right and swings in a ball to the back post. Our man can't quite reach it despite an acrobatic attempt at a volley. 
21min Wonderful work by Neymar down the right, bursting to the byline despite the physical presence of Rakitic and cutting back a low cross that is cleared to Oscar on the edge of the area.
His well-struck curling effort is pushed away expertly by goalkeeper Pletikosa. It is the first real glimpse of Neymar's quality, though there is a suspicion he ran the ball out of play in the process.
The No 10 has a rather anxious expression on his face after the danger passes. Brazil are still behind, after all.

Nearly: Neymar stretches to reach a deep cross from Oscar, but can't quite manage to keep it in

Letting fly: Neymar unleashes a shot from the edge of the penalty box as Croatian defenders attempt to block the ball

Duel: Neymar attempts to turn past Ivan Rakitic during the first half of the match

26min BOOKED Neymar is given a yellow card for an elbow on Luka Modric. The Barcelona vs Real Madrid rivalry has crossed the Atlantic! There seemed some definite intent too, with the Brazilian making firm contact with the side of Modric's face.
In all honesty, a different referee may have produced a red card for that.

Sizing him up: Neymar checks exactly where Luka Modric is standing as he prepares to enter the aerial challenge with his elbow

Clattered: Neymar makes contact with Modric's face as he looks up at the flight of the ball

Going down: The Real Madrid man is send to the floor as Thiago Silva watches on with concern

Skirmish: Neymar is shown a yellow card by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura for his elbow on Modric as the Croatian players protest vociferously

Tightrope: Modric can be seen holding his face on the floor as Neymar goes into the book

28min NEYMAR SCORES! Brazil 1-1 Croatia Neymar has arrived at the World Cup... and in style!
Collecting the ball some 40 yards from goal, he has no other thought but to drive forward at the heart of the Croatia defence.
He has options ahead but, with no meaningful challenges coming his way, he shifts the ball left and then places the ball off the post and into the net with a superb low left-footed shot.
The goalkeeper was perhaps unsighted by the crowd of defenders ahead of him but Neymar's accuracy is bang on and a wave of relief sweeps around the arena as their poster boy celebrates with the Bale heart celebration.
The goal is Neymar's 32nd for Brazil in 50 appearances, putting him one behind Ronaldinho and two behind Rivaldo.

Bound for glory: Neymar, after driving at the heart of the Croatia defence, lets off a low left-footed shot from about 25 yards

Inch perfect: Neymar's shot is low and true and beats the despairing dive of goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, striking the inside of the post and nestling in the net

Joy unconfined: Neymar is congratulated by Hulk after drawing Brazil level

Chase is on: Hulk and Marcelo in hot pursuit of the scorer as he sprints off to celebrate Brazil's first goal of the World Cup

Giving thanks: Another glimpse to the heavens to mark the goal

34min He's perfectly capable of performing defensive duties too... taking up a station at the front post, Neymar heads away a Croatian corner.
40min With a decisive shift of the hips, Neymar completely fools Modric and is bundled over for a free-kick 25 yards out... he strides up and takes the set-piece, only to see it deflect off the wall for a corner.
44min With mere seconds before half-time, Neymar pinches the ball off Ivica Olic as the Croatian attempts a fancy pirouette. He drives forward towards the goal and into the box. Finding himself crowded out and forced wide, he flicks it back to Hulk to curl an effort wide.
HALF-TIME: BRAZIL 1-1 CROATIA

Grimace: Neymar shouts out in pain as Vedran Corluka fells him with a heavy tackle

Painful: He was left in great discomfort after the Corluka challenge

46min The two teams re-emerge from the changing rooms for the second-half with the scores locked at 1-1.
57min It's a relatively low key start to the second period fro both Neymar and Brazil. The passage of play is summed up when Neymar, receiving a lay-off from Oscar in the middle of the park, over-hits a ball out wide and it rolls harmlessly out of play.
His default position seems to be much deeper after the break as Brazil sit try to find their forward thrust again. 
64min The game enters the doldrums for a few minutes but, suddenly, Neymar sparks it into life by stealing the ball and bursting forward into space.
He attempts to thread a through ball but is clattered by Vedran Corluka and is sent rolling across the turf. The Croatia man picks up a justified yellow card.

Charge on: Neymar carries the attack to Brazil's opponents during the early stages of the second period

68min PENALTY TO BRAZIL Fred is brought to ground by Lovren and the hosts have a spot-kick. Neymar, without hesitation, grabs the ball and places it on the spot...
70min NEYMAR SCORES! Brazil 2-1 Croatia The run-up is stuttering, a little hesitant perhaps, and it looks as though Pletikosa is going to keep it out. But, despite a very strong hand from the Croatian goalkeeper, it spins into the net and Brazil are in front with just 20 minutes to go.
That is Neymar's 33rd goal for Brazil, putting him level in the all-time chart with Ronaldinho. It is very much his tournament already.

Good fortune: It looks as though goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa is going to repel Neymar's spot-kick but there was enough power to find the net

Get in! Despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper, Neymar's penalty finds the target and Brazil are in front for the first time

Here we go again: Neymar runs off the celebrate his second goal of the night and the competition

Contrasting emotions: Stipe Pletikosa can't believe his ill fortune as Neymar runs off to celebrate

OPTA STAT

2 - Neymar is the first player to score 2+ goals on his World Cup debut since David Villa for Spain vs Ukraine on June 14 2006. Impact.

76min A glorious chance to make it three... Oscar crosses brilliantly from the right and David Luiz heads the ball wide mere inches in front of Neymar.
It would almost certainly have been better if he'd left it for the Barcelona man to convert and their reaction says it all.
78min A grimace of pain crosses Neymar's face as he diligently chases a lost cause into the corner and wins a corner by flicking the ball back off Srna. There is the slightest brush of contact between the pair and Neymar feels his ankle as he returns to the field.
87min SUBBED OFF The end of Neymar's eventful night comes three minutes from time as Luiz Felipe Scolari sends on Ramires to shore things up.
He has had four attempts at goal, all on target, and has scored two goals. Oh, and a yellow card that might well have been a red. An interesting start to the tournament for sure!
Oscar adds a late third as Brazil win the match 3-1.
FULL-TIME: BRAZIL 3-1 CROATIA

More pain: Neymar grabs his toe after a collision with Ivica Olic towards the end