BERLIN, June 14 - Croatia started to think beyond Brazil immediately after their 1-0 World Cup defeat by the champions on Tuesday.

Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar had already made clear he was concentrating on the other Group F matches against Japan and Australia, with the aim of finishing second to Brazil and progressing to the next round.

"Brazil are the best team in the world, no question about that, and we didn't play badly at all," defender Josip Simunic told reporters.

"But we lost 1-0, we have no points and they have three points and that's it."

Captain Niko Kovac said Croatia's first-round ambitions were clear.

"We have to win both the other games," he said. "We knew that before but now it's reality.

"We all need to concentrate on that."

Kovac was substituted late in the first half after a heavy challenge from Brazil's Ze Roberto.

The skipper said he had hurt his ribs and would know more about the extent of the injury on Wednesday.

But Kovac felt he would be able to play in the team's next game against Japan in Nuremberg on June 18.

Brazil meet Australia in Munich the same day.