Brazil Launch Bid for Sixth World Cup Title

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said he's not expecting a top performance from his starting line-up on Tuesday even though Brazil have won their opening match at every World Cup since 1982, and have been unbeaten in their last 10 outings.

"We won't be immediately at 100 percent," Parreira said. "The important thing is that the team develops in the course of the tournament."

A bit of a sluggish start is what the Croatian team have built their hopes on for their opening match, though the players appear to be keeping their ambitions in check.

"Ninety-nine percent of the world is saying Brazil are favorites," said Croatia midfielder Igor Tudor.

"A draw would be a success," he said, adding that it would be a "sensation" if Croatia won.

Ronaldo with something to prove

Brazil striker Ronaldo will have his first chance to show that he's still got the stuff champions are made of when -- alongside Ronaldinho, Adriano and Kaka -- he completes the team's so-called Magic Quartet.

Ronaldo -- the top scorer in the 2002 World Cup -- has had a frustrating season with Real Madrid, marked by minor injuries and a deteriorating relationship with the fans.

In the build-up to the tournament, Ronaldo -- who has fought a battle with his weight for much of his career -- took offense when he was questioned about his waistline by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Lula swiftly reaffirmed his "affection" for the player, but the question would not go away.

"I only want respect," Ronaldo said, whose training has been hampered by blisters.

Whole world watching

If Ronaldo's influence has faded, Ronaldinho has become the undisputed king of the side.

The 26-year-old from Porto Alegre carried Barcelona to the Champions League title as well as the Spanish championship for a second straight season.

The old man of the team, 36-year-old Cafu, has seen it all before and stressed that Brazil were not expecting an easy ride.

"All the teams at this World Cup are going to have problems winning and our first match will be tough," he said. "Everyone says we will reach the final but we need to take every opponent as they come. And we know the whole world will be looking at this match to see what sort of shape we are in."

But Cafu added that "tradition was important" when it came to winning World Cups -- and no nation has won the title as many times as Brazil.

The Croatians, semi-finalists in France in 1998, will not be there just to make up the numbers. But they have been battling a mysterious virus since arriving in Germany last week. Doctors could not determine the cause of the infection which had stricken stars including Darijo Simic, Ivica Olic, Bosko Balaban, Dado Prso, Stjepan Tomas, Anthony Seric and Joseph Didulica, although most have recovered and will play.

Asian champions Japan and Australia make up the remainder of Group F.