The superstars of Brazil were set to burst on to the World Cup stage on Tuesday as the reigning champions start their bid for a sixth title when they play Croatia in the German capital.
The team, spearheaded by Ronaldinho and Ronaldo, are the hot favourites to retain the title they won four years ago in Japan, and every one of their matches in Germany will be watched by packed stadiums.
Fans wearing the familiar yellow shirts were making their way to the Berlin Olympic Stadium even 12 hours before the game kicked off at 7pm local time.
The samba kings are seeking to emulate their compatriots, who won consecutive titles in 1958 and 1962. Italy, in 1934 and 1938, are the only other country to have achieved the feat.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira rejected suggestions that the pressure was affecting his players.
”Every game is a final — many teams that were favourites have failed.
”The pressure comes from outside and doesn’t hurt us,” insisted Parreira.
World Player of the Year Ronaldinho said he was confident the celebrated striking quartet of himself, Ronaldo, Adriano and Kaka would unlock the tightest of defending.
”Brazil’s four attackers will be well-marked, but I’m confident we’ll be able to get round that,” he said.
But Croatia have quality too, and the 1998 semifinalists are looking to throw a spanner in the Brazilian works.
France go into their match against Switzerland in Stuttgart desperate to wipe away the bitter disappointment of four years ago when they became the first Cup holders to exit in the first round.
Zinedine Zidane’s powers may have dimmed, but striker Thierry Henry is playing the best football of his career and coach Raymond Domenech has drafted in the joker in his pack, Marseille’s attacking midfielder Frank Ribery, to bring a new edge to an ageing team.
But Domenech has been enraged by press ”spying” on the team, and the atmosphere in their camp has been tense.
”I could understand if you had spied on the opposition but that our own media does it to us and tells everyone else, I find that upsetting,” he blasted after L’Equipe newspaper revealed his line-up before he did.
While France slumped in 2002, South Korea created a major shock by reaching the semifinals on home soil.
They will be out to prove that was no flash in the pan when they start their 2006 challenge against chaos-hit Togo under the high-tech roof of the Frankfurt stadium at 1pm local time.
Togo’s veteran German coach Otto Pfister returned to the team on the eve of the match after walking out over a bonuses wrangle for the World Cup debutants.
The Koreans’ preparations have been calmer and their Dutch coach Dick Advocaat said he was confident his young players would not let down their fervent fans.
”I think they can do the same as the young ones did four years ago. The talented, new players can do a really good job for Korea, I have no doubt about that,” he said.
More than a million South Koreans were set to take to the streets of Seoul and other cities to cheer on their heroes, police said.
There were wild celebrations in Australia after the Socceroos won the first match in their short World Cup history, coming from behind to beat Japan 3-1 on Monday.
”It was the most amazing victory in the history of Australian sport,” Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said under its ”Goal! Goal! Goal!” headline.
Meanwhile, England looked unlikely to risk Wayne Rooney against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday as they look to book their ticket for the next round.
Media reports said Rooney’s return was unlikely as medical experts who said his foot injury had healed will not fly to Germany to re-assess the player’s condition until Friday. — AFP
