Brazil's two-goal Hulk confounds Denmark

Hulk scored two and his presence forced Niki Zimling to turn into his own goal as Denmark lost 3-1 to Brazil in Hamburg in their first warm-up game for UEFA EURO 2012.

More than 40,000 Danish spectators were in the stands, but the FC Porto forward did not take long to silence them, firing in early before compelling Zimling into a costly mistake and hitting the third before the break. Nicklas Bendtner pulled one back after the interval as Denmark rallied, but Hulk had done the damage.

The game was only eight minutes old when the powerful Hulk, who hit four goals in six UEFA Champions League games for his club this term, latched on to a pass and rifled a long-range shot over a stranded Thomas Sørensen. Four minutes later, pressure from Hulk forced the Danes hand again. The forward won possession from Christian Poulsen in the Denmark half and found Oscar, whose cross into the box looked destined for the Porto man until Zimling turned it past Sørensen with his head while attempting to cut it out.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen was forced to make a double substitution after just 24 minutes as goalkeeper Sørensen and right-winger Lasse Schøne picked up knocks, with Stephan Andersen and Thomas Kahlenberg replacing them, but the changes allowed the Danes to work their way into the match. However, just as Denmark appeared to gain control, Hulk again showed his eye for goal, rounding Simon Kjær and rolling in his second before the break.

Defender Daniel Agger fired wide of an empty net early in the second half, but the Danes got some consolation on 70 minutes as Zimling set-up Bendtner for a simple finish. Denmark now have only one more warm-up game before heading to the finals, taking on Australia on 2 June. The Danes kick-off their Group B campaign against the Netherlands on 9 June in Kharkiv.