Brazil 3 - 1 Denmark: Hulk crushes Denmark to highlight the Euro task ahead

The Chelsea target scored in the eighth and 40th minutes, either side of an own goal by Niki Zimling, as a young but polished Brazil side brushed off a team headed to next month’s European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Nicklas Bendtner salvaged some pride for Denmark in the 71st minute.

Brazil are warming up for the Olympics, the only significant tournament they have never won. Brazil are also the host of the next World Cup in 2014.

Hulk fired a left-foot shot from 25 yards that dipped low and hit the ground before getting through underneath the body of Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

Five minutes later, Brazil doubled their lead. Christian Poulsen lost the ball near his penalty area, Oscar brought it forward it and crossed into the middle where Zimling’s clumsy attempt to clear bounced into his own net, wrong-footing Sorensen.

Simon Poulsen and Christian Eriksen had two attempts in quick succession as Denmark stepped up the pace and began to threaten more. With the Brazilian defence beginning to buckle, Michael Krohn-Dehli missed an open goal after Jefferson had mistimed his attempt to punch away a cross.

But Brazil weathered the storm and Hulk put his team in control again in the 40th minute. Oscar won the ball from Daniel Agger and released Hulk, who rounded Simon Kjaer and shot past Denmark’s substitute goalkeeper Stephan Andrersen.

Sandro made a timely clearance in the 60th to deny Bendtner.

But the Sunderland striker found the target 11 minutes later, after Zimling had toyed with Brazil’s defence on the left wing and sent a perfect low cross for Bendtner to tap in.