Rusty Brazil Take The Points But Are Looking To Up The Pace Against Socceroos

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday June 15, 2006

David Dick in Berlin

BRAZIL 1

Kaka (44 min)

CROATIA 0

THE samba drummers and dancers were there and the superstars all got to stretch their legs, but the magic was missing from Brazil late on Tuesday night in Berlin.

The tournament favourites secured their 1-0 victory with a delightful stroke from Kaka's left boot a minute before half-time, but it was a performance described by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as just "60-70 per cent". In case we thought that meant he was disappointed, he added "as expected".

The Brazilians were far from their best but are adamant that calibre of play is just around the corner. It is difficult not to think that perhaps the first match would have been the ideal time to catch the reigning champions, who have started slowly in the previous two campaigns.

The reality is, however, that Sunday's match against Australia (2am Monday, Sydney time) is to decide top spot in group F, a somewhat unexpected dimension that is not lost on Parreira.

"Whoever wins this game is through to the last 16," he said. "It's not just the second group game, it is a decisive game as the winner makes it to the next stage and that is our primary objective.

"We are going to find a team who competed and played very well against Japan and who are physically very strong and powerful in the tackle. They have three or four good players who play in strong European leagues.

"They have Bresciano, Kewell and Cahill, who came on in the second half against Japan. But we are not going to fight with them. We need to get the ball on the pitch and use our technical abilities, because that is where our strength lies."

Everyone knows those technical abilities are there, but Tuesday's performance was anything but an exhibition of the beautiful game. The Croatians defended in depth and doubled up on Ronaldinho, who consequently struggled to impose himself on the match. Indeed, with Igor Tudor and Niko Kovac sitting in front of a tight back four, the Brazilians were restricted to long- range shots for most of the match. Kaka just happened to blast one of these past goalkeeper Tomislav Butina, which should sound a warning to the Socceroos, as an even more lethal shot from his right whistled past the post midway through the second half.

Kaka was the main positive in an otherwise disappointing evening for the four attackers.

The Brazilians talk about "the square" of him, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Adriano, but they were certainly two dimensional in Berlin.

Ronaldinho was restricted due to his wide berth on the left and he was forced to withdraw far deeper into the midfield than he ever is at Barcelona, while Adriano was also dragged deeper in a tactical switch by Parreira to protect Cafu at right back, who was put under considerable pressure by Croatia's Dado Prso. Then there is Ronaldo, who is clearly lacking match fitness and was withdrawn for Robinho with 20 minutes to go after an impotent contribution.

"We truly didn't play to our potential or expectations," conceded Kaka. "I'm not saying that we were poor, just that it was surprising how cleverly Croatia performed and how hard they concentrated on stopping us playing.

"All the same it is a victory which cannot be underestimated, because everyone always wants to stop Brazil playing. The truth is that I expect something very similar or identical when we play Australia.

"They are clearly a good team, if you judge by their having eliminated Uruguay, but what is more, we all know and respect what a great coach they have.

"Right now we will face them with Australia as group leaders and the fact is that one of our key players Ronaldo is not yet at 100 per cent.

"His form is not yet back to normal and what we have to hope is that the real Ronaldo returns soon. I must admit that a little bit more movement from Ronaldo would be ideal for us as an attacking force.

"In fact, in the next game against Australia I think we need a little bit more movement in general in order to create space and opportunities.

"There is no question that we showed nerves and tension and that was because Croatia marked us so tightly and pressed well. But they tired and we are used to that kind of thing happening against us.

"Teams want to close us but then they can't keep up with us. Yet that is why our movement must be better, especially against Australia, who are a very organised team and who everyone finds difficult to beat."

The introduction of Robinho injected a little of what had been missing but it will not be enough to earn him a place in the starting 11 on Sunday. At least not at the expense of the No.9.

"It is difficult to face a team like this when we have only had two warm-up matches and Ronaldo hasn't been playing for the last two months at Madrid," Parreira said.

"But he is going to start the game against Australia. He needs games to get his pace back and he will play because he is a decisive player.

"You can't expect 100 per cent in the first game. We need to increase our pace and you will see that in the next game."