Brazil: Dida, Cafu, Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Kaka, Emerson, Ronaldinho, Ze Roberto, Adriano, Ronaldo (Robinho).

Croatia: Pletikosa, Simic, R.Kovac, Simunic, Srna, Babic, Tudor, Kranjcar, N.Kovac (J.Leko), Klasnic (Olic), Prso.

As always the enrty of Brazil was a much anticipated event. On this occasion the hype was not matched by the performance. Typically, however, Brazil won the match despite hardly inspiring the watching world and are already virtually assured of qualification.

They will get better but they need to.

There was little end product to their play although Brazil always ferry the ball around the pitch in fine style. Their first hint of danger came when they broke quickly from a Croatia corner in the 8th minute.

Kaka was involved at the start of the move and put in the shot at the end of it but the effort was well wide of the target.

Roberto Carlos took the earliest opportunity to see how much he could tamper with the ball but it was not reverse swinging yet and Pletikosa tipped over for a corner. When this was played short to Ronaldinho he forced the keeper into a more taxing save with a low drive.

Croatia were coping reasonably comfortably with the Brazilian thrusts, however, and a strapping back three certainly had the measure of Ronaldo who looked sluggish in the extreme.

Srna sent over a devil of a free kick which just eluded both Tudor and N.Kovac but in general the Croatian final ball was badly lacking.

Cafu spoiled one sweet passing move by shooting straight at the keeper from a prohibitive angle before Brazil suddenly took the lead with half time imminent.

Emerson brought the ball out of defence and fed Cafu along the right wing. He squared a pass into Kaka who measured a beautiful left footed finish into the net from 25 yards.

It was a memorable end to a forgettable half.

Half Time: Brazil 1 Croatia 0

Lacklustre in the first half Brazil continued to labour, by their standards, in the second.

Robert Kovac fed Prso with a fine ball on which the burly forward turned and got a shot away from the edge of the box. Dida fumbled badly and Prso might well have mopped up the rebound had he not slipped at the worst possible time.

Then Klasnic sent in a snap shot from the edge of the area which he caught perfectly but the effort was straight at the keeper.

As the game threatened to ignite Ronaldo had his one decent moment, firing just over the angle at the end of a fine sweeping move.

Another good passage of play by Brazil ended with Cafu surging forward to supply a cross which Ronaldinho headed too close to Pletikosa under pressure.

As Croatia continued to cause problems Babic released Olic inside the area. The square pass was on first time but the forward checked back and then saw his attempted centre blocked. It was a real waste.

Twenty minutes from time Ronaldo was withdrawn after a performance that gave his detractors plenty of ammunition and Brazil looked a slicker team without him.

It was Croatia who should have scored shortly afterwards, however. A corner was worked across to Babic who could only hit Dida from a central position. He should have hit the net.

Kaka sent another fine effort just wide from distance and Adriano missed the chance of the game, sidefooting wide of a gaping goal from ten yards out as Brazil found it impossible to close the game out.

They almost paid the ultimate price at the death when Kranjcar sent over an inviting cross from the left which Prso headed onto the roof of the net.

As it was the favourites had their victory but the world will have to wait a little longer for the fireworks.

Full Time: Brazil 1 Croatia 0

Brazil: Dida 6, Cafu 7, Lucio 6, Juan 5, R.Carlos 6, Kaka 8, Emerson 6, Ronaldinho 8, Ze Roberto 6, Adriano 7, Ronaldo 4 (Robinho 6).

Croatia: Pletikosa 7, Simic 7, R.Kovac 9, Simunic 7, Srna 7, Babic 7, Tudor 7, Kranjcar 7, N.Kovac 5 (J.Leko 5), Prso 5, Klasnic 6 (Olic 5).

Referee: B.Archundia (Mexico) 6
This was a pretty easy game to handle, all things considered.

Good:
Kaka's finish, true precision. A lot of the goals have possibly only happened because of the strange ball. This effort was genuine quality.

Bad:
Ronaldo. Not a game to remember for the toothy one.

Ugly:
Robert Kovac. Actually he's not a bad looking fella but he does look pretty scary. Bob had a really good game at the heart of the Croatian back three.