Brazil won the World Cup in 2002 and are the favourites to win the tournament again in 2006. Brazil played their first World Cup 2006 match against Croatia on 13 June 2006 in Berlin, Germany.

Brazil's line up was: Dida, Cafu, Lucio, Juan, Carlos, Ze Roberto, Emerson, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Adriano, Ronaldo (Robinho 68)

Croatia's team was: Pletikosa, Simunic, Kovac (Leko 40), Tudor, Simic, Srna, Babic, Kovac, Kranjcar, Prso, Klasnic (Olic 58)

            
Brazil did not show as much as was expected of them for the first 43 minutes of the match against an organised Croatian side - then just before half time Kaka scored from outside the penalty box with a superb left footed strike that curled into the net to Pletikosa's right.

Brazil let Croatia have plenty of the ball and Croatia had more chances than they would have expected to have against the World Champions - however the shots they had on target went straight at the Brazilian goalkeeper, Dida. Brazil also had other good chances to score through Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Adriano.

After 68 minutes of the match Robinho (Real Madrid) replaced Ronaldo (Real Madrid) as he did not look at his best and only had one decent shot on goal from distance.

Brazil started to impose themselves on the game in the last 20 minutes and got the 1-0 win that gave them their 8th consecutive victory in a World Cup game which is a record (they won all seven games in the World Cup 2002). Croatia had lost their first competitive game since losing 4-2 to England in Euro 2004.

See who Brazil and Croatia play next on the World Cup screenchart