BERLIN (AP) -- 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 eight-straight winning streak at the World Cup.
While the Croatian fans were delighted with how their team played, the
Brazilians were relieved to get out with a win.
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 very different.
Croatia now plays Japan on Sunday. Brazil plays the Aussies on Sunday.
The Brazilians have Ronaldinho, the two-time world player of the year, and a
cast of all-stars in Ronaldo, Kaka, Adriano and Cafu. With reserves who would
start on any other team, everyone has tagged them as the heavy favorites to be
partying in Berlin after the July 9 final.
This was simply a dress rehearsal, but it started with all the trappings of
the real thing. Brazilian and Croatian fans took over the streets of Berlin
early in the day, and the sounds of samba filled the air. Deafening roars shook
the stadium when both teams were introduced, and bright red flares lit up the
sky as the game ended.
A fan in a Croatia shirt even got on the field with less than 10 minutes to
go, running around until Prso led him off.
Brazil didn't quite play its part, though.
It 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.
