Brazil 6 Honduras 0: This was the real opening ceremony as the Maracana explodes and Brazil embraces the Games

THE last booming bars of the anthem fade, the first whistle blows.

A rat-a-tat of passes causes panic in the opposition half. Their talisman closes down the last defender, robs him and he’s in.

The toe-poke, a split-second before the keeper gets there, both men sprawl, the ball bobbles over the line. The Maracana explodes with joy.

And 12 days into the Games, the host nation finally has the opening ceremony it deserves.

Not light shows and dancers, not an endless parade of athletes and a stream of interminable speeches, but football. The only thing that really matters.

With Neymar carrying the flag for 200million hard-pressed souls, hungry for something wonderful to cling on to.

Within 15 whirlwind seconds of the Men’s Football semi, they got it with a goal thousands still streaming up the concrete ramps to the stands didn’t even see.

As it went in, as much thanks to Honduras freezing in the spotlight as to rapier Brazilian attacking, those outside in the searing lunchtime heat cursed the queues, the security checks and that extra ten minutes they had in bed.

Because moments like this were what they’d signed up for, moments that are what sport in Rio de Janeiro is all about — the temple of temples rammed and raucous, samba beats, sunshine and O Selecao strutting like they’re born to do.

But wait. Neymar’s still down. They hold their breath as an army of physios hurtle on, then roar with relief as he’s lifted gingerly back to his feet.

He jogs towards halfway, then crumples again. A hush descends as this time doctors and paramedics arrive.

They cart him off. Play rages on. He climbs off the stretcher and bounces back on the pitch. All’s well. Take the music off pause. Relax, he’s fine.

No, not fine. Remarkable, charismatic, unplayable.

When his country needed him to carry them to the final, he wore the responsibility like his favourite shirt.