Berlin – Brazil was ready to bring on Carnival, and so were the thousands of proud, loud fans who sambaed their way to Germany to cheer for the defending World Cup champions.
Croatia had other ideas.
Kaka scored in the 44th minute Tuesday night, but Croatia made the Brazilians work for every bit of the 1-0 victory that preserved their record eighth consecutive victory at the World Cup.
While the Croatian fans were delighted with how their team played, the Brazilians were relieved to get out with a victory. But no one will be thinking the world champs are invincible anymore.
“Croatia did not deserve to lose,” Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar said. “We were better for most parts of the match. Unfortunately, we didn’t exploit our chances and half-chances. If you don’t take your chances against a team like Brazil, they will punish you.”
Croatia peppered goalkeeper Dida with several shots in the second half, including one by Dado Prso in the 51st minute that went off the Brazilian’s hands. If captain Niko Kovac hadn’t left with a rib injury just in the 41st minute, the outcome might have been different.
Brazil struggled with Croatia’s annoying defense and Ronaldo, he of the great weight debate, looked less than impressive. He appeared slow and out of shape, and was replaced by Robinho in the 69th minute.
“Ronaldo hadn’t been playing for two months,” Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “It’s natural, in a hot day like today, that he felt the lack of rhythm. Certainly, from now on he will get in form little by little.”
Instead it was Kaka leading Brazil’s attack. Dribbling up the right side in the 44th minute, Cafu spotted Kaka in the middle and made a perfect pass. Kaka collected it and was past Niko Kranjcar with one quick tap of the ball.
The 21-year-old son of Croatia’s coach has been a concern defensively, and it was soon clear why. Kranjcar wasn’t anywhere close as Kaka stutter-stepped, giving the Brazilian time to look up and check his aim from about 20 yards out. As Kranjcar closed in, Kaka drew back and struck hard with his left foot, and it was clear from the minute his boot hit the ball it was going to be good.
SOUTH KOREA 2, TOGO 1 at Frankfurt: Togo got its coach back for its opening match, and even took a halftime lead. Then everything fell apart.
South Korea’s long wait for its first World Cup victory on foreign soil ended against the tiny African nation, which put up an unexpectedly spirited performance given the coaching turmoil that ended only moments before the match. To compound its problems, Togo played with 10 men for the final 37 minutes.
There were doubts until almost game time whether Togo coach Otto Pfister, who resigned Friday and agreed to come back Monday, actually would sit on the bench. But he took his place, encouraging his team on.
Substitute Ahn Jung-Hwan scored the winner in the 72nd minute. His perfectly placed 25-yard shot beat Togo goalkeeper Kossi Agassa.
SWITZERLAND 0, FRANCE 0 at Stuttgart: The star-studded French were held to a scoreless tie, bringing back memories of their horrid 2002 performance, when Les Bleus were knocked out in the first round without finding the net.
The last time the French scored in a World Cup game was when they beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final.
The Swiss nearly scored in the 23rd minute when Tranquillo Barnetta fired a free kick that evaded two defenders before hitting the post.
Today’s games
Spain vs. Ukraine, 7 a.m., ESPN2/KCEC-50
Tunisia vs. Saudi Arabia, 10 a.m., ESPN2/KCEC-50
Poland at Germany, 1 p.m., ESPN2/KCEC-50
