BERLIN (AP):
TIME TO samba.
Brazil sets course for what could be its sixth World Cup title - twice as many as any other country - when it plays Croatia at the Olympic Stadium today. Already, thousands of Brazilian fans are in town.
And even non-Brazilians are embracing the Samba Kings known for their graceful style of play. All over Berlin, fans from dozens of nations are decked out in the famed yellow jerseys of the defending champions.
Opponents seem honoured to share the field with them, too.
"This match can certainly be like no other," Croatia midfielder Igor Tudor said. "I have been thinking about it for months now and I never do that."
Does that mean the Croatians, who made the semi-finals at France '98, have the wrong mind-set for the game? Does Brazil own the three points before the first kick-off?
"Soccer is an unpredictable sport and the World Cup has shown there can be surprises," Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar said, "so there is no reason why we cannot pull off a surprise ourselves."
So Croatia will show up. Whether it can slow up the brilliant Brazilians is another matter.
Brazil's roster is loaded, so much so that all of its bench players are capable of starting for other nations in the 32-team field. At the very top of the list are the superstars: Ronaldinho, the two-time FIFA player of the year; Ronaldo, who owns three of those awards; Cafu, in his fourth World Cup; and Robert Carlos, the dynamic defensive organiser.
"We can't wait to begin playing," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "We've been living the same routine for the past 20 days. Everybody is just crazy to begin competing, not only the players, the technical staff, too.
"We have the obligation to perform well in this World Cup. We don't have the obligation to win it, but we have the obligation to do our best to reach the final. ... It's a responsibility we must be prepared to face, and I think we are ready for this challenge."
STRUGGLE
Also today, in Group G, South Korea challenge Togo at Frankfurt and France play Switzerland at Stuttgart.
The Koreans made the semi-finals four years ago as one of the host countries, but a similar run so far from home is unlikely. Indeed, South Korea could struggle to get out of the first round.
Despite reaching the semi-finals on its own soil in 2002, South Korea are yet to win a World Cup game outside of Asia and today's game provides the opportunity to end that streak.
"We beat a lot of strong teams in Korea," said midfielder Park Ji-sung, who also plays for Manchester United. "But not on foreign soil. If we beat a team in Germany, especially in the first game of this World Cup, then that's the proof, also for us, that we are strong. And that 2002 was not a fluke."
Togo would seem ripe for being routed. Its coach quit over the weekend during a salary dispute between the federation and players. They are in the World Cup for the first time and haven't played well since surprisingly qualifying for the tournament.
Then again, these are proud players on a mission.
"We want to prove to the world that we are footballers and we are hungry for victory," said forward Emmanuel Adebayor, who plays for Arsenal. "We know it's the World Cup. It's the best tournament in the world. We have to give our best. We have to represent Africa."
BITTER MEMORIES
France has been plagued by injuries, losing striker Djibril Cisse with a broken leg last week. The French also have bitter memories from 2002 when, as defending champions, they didn't score a goal and went home after the first round.
If Switzerland can keep the French off-balance early on, frustration could set in. The Swiss drew both of their qualifying games with France and won't be intimidated.
"I think we did well in the two qualifying matches," said striker Alexander Frei, who plays in France for Rennes. "I think we can play without being self-conscious. The idea of little Switzerland, that's over."
