In the case of the Argentines, their caution belies their welcome attacking football on the pitch as stars such as Juan Roman Riquelme, Hernan Crespo and Lionel Messi have quickly found their feet.

The Brazilians, who arrived looking for a title defence and a sixth win in all, were being praised to the rafters before they even took to the training pitch, prompting skipper Cafu to issue an early warning against getting carried away.

Nonetheless, ahead of the narrow win over Croatia the 36-year-old fullback, seeking to become the first man to win the title twice as a captain as well as the first to play in four consecutive World Cup finals, opined that "we have the best Brazil team I've played in."

Even before the "real" Brazil failed to stand up and show their true selves, Cafu added to his credit that "now we have to win to prove it."

Six points from two games have put a layer of gloss on their tournament to date - as in the case of a similarly lacklustre England.

But the auriverde, the bookies' favourtites at 5/2 over 7/2 for Argentina, have not impressed against either the Croatians or the Australians.

Australian skipper Mark Viduka had forecast before his side's 2-0 reverse in Munich that Brazil "are vulnerable in places," adding Croatia should have avoided defeat against a side who "are not superheroes or anything like that."

Ronaldo and company certainly proved that much in Sunday's rather fortuitous win which had the Socceroos kicking themselves for not forcing a point which would have seen them put one foot in the second phase for the first time.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said in most un-Brazilian fashion that "we imposed ourselves physically," while Ronaldo insisted that "we were better than we were against Croatia - things are coming together for us."

Certainly past tournaments have suggested only a brave man would argue against the Brazilians moving through the gears from now on.

After squashing Serbia and Montenegro 6-0, Argentina are in contrast wary of peaking too early, with Jose Pekerman's albiceleste currently looking the team to beat - as Parreira has already acknowledged.

"Argentina are a side on a par with Brazil when it comes to technical quality and they are well prepared. They are cool and not under any pressure," according to the man who won the 1994 title for the reigning champions.

Pekerman may regard such talk as a ploy to share out the pressure on the South American giants.

One man who knows both countries' respective merits well is Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano, who plays his club football with Corinthians in Brazil and who insists the squad is unfazed by the odds shortening on a third Argentine triumph rather than his rivals completing a "Hexacampeao" sixth.

"We are not worried about all the talks about us. We have to think about getting a result against Holland (in the final group game in Frankfurt on Wednesday)," says Mascherano.

He admits that "now we are one of the favourites - but it isn't going to go our head."

Esteban Cambiasso, the Inter Milan midfielder who completed a wonderful flowing move to net against the Serbs, says Brazil still set the standard even if their "jogo bonito" (beautiful game) has been little in evidence thus far.

"They are right up there because of the way they play and because of the fact they hold the South American, Confederations and world titles," insists Cambiasso.

"But Argentina are among other candidates" for glory on June 9 in Berlin, he went on.

Whereas Brazil can only match their 2002 showing, the Argentines are on a mission to erase the memory of a flop which comprised a first-phase exit four years ago.

Yet in the current spirit of treating the favourites' tag as a hot potato Argentina's Maximiliano Rodriguez, on target twice against the Serbs, was on Sunday at pains to tell reporters that "so far we have only got through the first round."

On that early evidence, Argentina do not have to step it up - but the same cannot be said of Brazil.