Live Ticker: Brazil 1 : 0 Croatia
June 13, 2006The world champions next at DW-WORLD.DE
Favorites to win the 2006 World Cup, Brazil take the field against Croatia.
Samba in the stands
The Brazilian fans -- and even some in Croatia's red and white checker jerseys -- are taking advantage of Berlin's sunny weather for a bit of pre-match samba dancing.
The waiting comes to an end
After weeks of anticipation Brazil are ready to take the field in their first 2006 World Cup game and start the contest for their sixth title. For their part, Croatia have already said they would be happy leaving Berlin with a draw, which in itself is no small feat against this Brazilian team.
Who's on the field?
Here's a look at the starting line-ups: Brazil: 1- Dida; 2- Cafu (c), 4- Juan, 3- Lucio, 6- Roberto Carlos; 5- Emerson, 8- Kaka, 10- Ronaldinho, 11- Ze Roberto; 7- Adriano, 9- Ronaldo Coach: Carlos Alberto Parreira Croatia: 1- Stipe Pletikosa; 7- Dario Simic, 4- Robert Kovac, 5- Igor Tudor, 3- Josep Simunic; 2- Darijo Srna, 10- Nico Kovac (c), 19- Niko Kranjcar, 8- Marko Babic; 9- Dado Prso, 17- Ivan Klasnic Coach: Zlatko Kranjcar Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)
History hurts
Brazil haven't lost a World Cup opening game in decades -- will Croatia be able to write history?
The anthems have begun
Some last-minute jumping around to keep the muscles loose and the players look ready to put the years of training behind them.
1. min.
The whistle blows and the game is on
Brazil start with the ball as the crowd erupts.
2. min.
The teams exchange possession in midfield. Kaka crosses in and Kovac clears it for a corner.
But it rolls over the end line and Croatia take their first goal kick.
4. min.
Ronaldinho shows his stuff
The Brazilian midfield dribbles past three Croatians before passing off to Ronaldo.
5. min.
Prso decides he's had enough of that show, collects the ball at the center circle and takes it down the flank. His cross sails off target for a goal kick.
7. min.
Croatia control in their own end, taking their time in building up the offense. Their patience is rewarded with Klasnic being called offsides.
9. min.
Dida gets a touch
The Brazilian keeper pulls a Croatian corner out of the air. A quick counter on the toss out and Kaka finishes the charge shooting the ball over the crossbar.
11. min.
Ronaldo is caught offsides on the pass from Ronaldinho -- was it a couple of extra pounds that kept him from getting back?
13. min.
Not worth the risk
The Croatians aren't taking any chances in the defense and passing back to keeper Pletikosa and following with a long ball to avoid the Brazilian strikers to work their penalty area magic.
15. min.
Chance Brazil
Roberto Carlos decides he's had enough of the slowish pace and fires away from 40 yards in a test for the Croatian keeper.
16. min.
Carlos does it again
The corner spits out to Carlos and he doesn't waste any time shooting it again. This time is goes over the bar without Pletikosa's help.
18. min.
The final step
The Brazilians are controlling the ball with a solid passing game between midfield and the Croatian penalty area, but that last combinations have been missing.
19. min.
Roberto Carlos sends it out
Croatia take their first corner; it is easily cleared away by Cafu.
21. min.
Ze Roberto crosses in but the play is broken up before Adriano can trap and shoot.
22. min.
Prso offsides
Kovac takes too long getting his pass off and Prso is too far forward.
24. min.
Kranjcar shoots, but it's not one he'll want to remember as it clangs against the advertising well off from goal.
25. min.
The Croatian four-man defense pass among themselves in a concerted effort not to be the team that makes the first mistake.
27. min.
Klasnic turns and shoots
In a matter of milliseconds, Klasnic turns with the ball and fires over goal.
29. min.
Not much running up front from Ronaldo and Adriano, the "buffalos" of the Brazilian team. They're going to have a hard time against a compact Croatian defense if they don't move around.
30. min.
Foul on N. Kovac
Adriano grabs the Croatian midfielder's arm and tosses him down. Kovac stretches, gets a quick drink and is ready to get back on the field.
32. min.
N. Kovac gets yellow
His arm couldn't have hurt that much as Kovac pulls down Kaka, awarding a dangerous free kick.
33. min.
Ronaldinho kicks into the wall.
35. min.
N. Kovac on the ground
The stretchers come out for Nico Kovac.
36. min.
He's able to limp off the field holding his side. Play continues while he is treated on the sideline.
38. min.
Srna takes a free kick but it sails over Tudor in a good chance for Croatia.
40. min.
N. Kovac can't continue
He is replaced by Jerko Lenko. Tudor takes over the captain's armband.
42. min.
Ze Roberto misfires on a volley and the ball bounces between his legs as Pletikosa wipes his brow.
43. min.
Emerson gets yellow
He doesn't know what he did, but referee Archundia books him for a tough foul (the latest in a series) on Kranjcar.
43. min.
Goal Brazil!
44. min.
Kaka sends the ball off the inside of his left foot and punishes the first tiny mistake in the Croatian defense by sending Pletikosa diving just before halftime.
45+1. min.
Flurry on the field
One goal and the pace of the game changes. There's not much time left, but both teams are attacking with a style missing in the first 44 minutes.
45+3. min.
Halftime
Croatia will have to become more offensive in the next 45 minutes. The defense stood well against an uncreative Brazilian. Up a goal, may not be the Brazilians be pressured to playing more attacking soccer, but after a very tactical (nearly lackadaisical) first half, that's what their fans will hope for.
Stay here for all the action from the second half.
Brazil slow getting back
And Ronaldo is the last man on the field
46. min.
Second half begins
How well will Croatia be able to organize the defense without captain Nico Kovac, who left the game with an injury? Find out here as the second half of Brazil vs. Croatia begins.
46. min.
No changes for either side at the start of the second half.
48. min.
Brazil defend for the longest period of the game so far, kicking the ball out before Srna and Prso are able to get off a shot on goal.
49. min.
Lucio and Prso collide and both get up like heavyweight fighters who have just gone 12 rounds.
51. min.
Prso has a chance
Prso turns the ball well with his chest and fires a shot that Dida parries away straight into the goal box. Cafu clears before Prso can get to it.
53. min.
Prso's drive has reawakened the Croatian fans in Berlin who want to see more action in the Brazilian penalty box.
55. min.
Croatians raise pressure
Klasnic gets in the way of a shot from Tudor, but he's able to turn it into a chance of his own. Dida blocks that ball down and collects it to safety.
56. min.
Inaccurate passes on both sides are leading a game of ping pong in midfield.
57. min.
Ivica Olic comes on for Ivan Klasnic
59. min.
Ronaldinho plays a free kick into the penalty area, but Robert Kovac gets to it first.
60. min.
Prso, the leading man of the Croatian offense, moves forward and gets off two shots, both of which are deflected by defenders before giving Dida anything to worry about.
62. min.
The Croatians are more offensively oriented but haven't thrown everything they have forward (yet?).
63. min.
Ronaldinho heads, Pletikosa saves
Far from perfectly placed, Ronaldinho is still all smiles as the ball flies off the keeper's gloves.
65. min.
Penalty box to penalty box
The seldom attacks on goal have cut the size of their field nearly in half with 20 players often crammed within 45 yards of space.
67. min.
Yellow for Kovac
A late sliding tackle on Adriano gets Kovac a place in the book with his brother.
68. min.
Chance Croatia
Srna gets the better of two defenders but gets greedy and instead of waiting for a free Prso at the box, he tries to score himself and fails.
69. min.
Ronaldo is off
Robinho comes on for Ronaldo, who had only one good shot to his name.
71. min.
Babic shoots from the middle of the penalty arc. Dida saves but if the Croatians keep up the pressure up, there's a good chance the Brazilian defense could crack.
72. min.
Kaka tries again
At the other end Kaka sees a hole and decides to try his luck again. This time the shot rockets wide past the diving keeper.
74. min.
Robinho shows a small taste of Brazilian magic, his shoot is deflected and lands in front of Adriano, who can't make anything of the ball at his feet.
75. min.
Babic nutmegs Lucio, Srna lays the ball back but Juan gets to it before Tudor can shoot.
78. min.
Like on a treadmill
Prso seems to know no physical limits. On defense and offense, he's all over the field blocking shots and taking some of Croatia's best.
81. min.
Half of the predictions come true
Before the match we expected the Croatians to come out with a respect for, but no fear of, the Brazilians and that's what they've done. We also expected some magic from the Selecao, which is sorely missing in tonight.
83. min.
Kaka sends a corner up high and it's cleared out of danger. The Brazilians are celebrating in the stands with at least 7 minutes left.
86. min.
Croatian fan on the field
A fan in a Klasnic jersey runs to Prso, who escorts the out of place supporter to the sidelines -- where security officials are waiting.
88. min.
Prso crosses to Niko Kranjcar, but his header goes over the jumping Dida.
89. min.
If it wasn't Brazil on the field...
Brazil look like the Cup winning team from 1994 -- the team that emphasized results over style. If any of the other 31 teams had Brazil's play-to-win style, they would be celebrated, but we've come to expect more of the reigning champions. We may have to tune down our expectations.
90. min.
Tudor gets booked
A last minute foul from behind gets yellow for Tudor.
90+1. min.
Two minutes of injury time in Berlin.
90+2. min.
Croatia take final stab
Srna sends a free kick cross into the penalty box; it only finds Juan who clears it out.
90+2. min.
Three points for Brazil
A last look at his watch and Archundia ends the game.
Brazil get their first three points of the Cup -- their eighth straight World Cup win -- in an uninspired victory over a solid Croatian defense.