Brazil, France, SKorea return to Cup looking similar to last time
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-14 07:35

BERLIN - Brazil, France and South Korea picked up just about where they left off four years ago.


Brazil's Kaka celebrates his goal against Croatia with team mate Roberto Carlos (L) during their Group F World Cup 2006 soccer match in Berlin June 13, 2006. [Reuters]

The defending champion Brazilians won their eighth straight World Cup match Tuesday, getting a 43rd-minute goal from Kaka to shake off a pesky Croatia 1-0 in Group F.

The French, who won the World Cup in 1998 but went home early last time, failed to score a goal in their fourth straight World Cup match _ this time in a 0-0 draw with Switzerland in Group G. And unexpected semifinalists as co-hosts last time, South Korea won away from home for the first time in 15 World Cup matches, beating Togo 2-1 in the same group.

Brazil, which is trying to win a record sixth World Cup title, got a string of saves from goalkeeper Dida at the Olympic Stadium, while Ronaldo was taken off in the 69th after a below-par performance.

Brazil started well, hogging possession and relying on the defensive midfield pairing of Emerson and Ze Roberto to win the ball back when moves broke down. It faded midway through the first half under tough Croatian tackling, however.

Croatia limited Brazil to a handful of long-range shots, and captain Niko Kovac initiated a handful of attacks before going off with an injury in the 40th.

Three minutes later, Cafu picked out Kaka on the edge of the area and the AC Milan playmaker took one touch to knock the ball past Niko Kranjcar and another to steady himself before sending a left-foot shot past Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

"I personally had a good start in the World Cup. I scored a goal, participated in several moves," Kaka said. "The second half was especially difficult because we had trouble getting organized and suffered a lot on the left side."

The last time the French team scored in a World Cup game was when it beat Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final. Switzerland also held France to draws in two qualifying games.

"We know that team all too well," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "It's the sort of match we expected. We could have beaten them in the first half. They could have won the match in the second half.

"This was a high-level match from both teams."

Despite being forced to play as a lone striker in Stuttgart, Thierry Henry went close with three shots and a header in the first half, while Zinedine Zidane's deft touches set up the best French moves.
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