THE DAY REPLAYED: The winning run now stands at eight victories. It began all the way back in Ulsan 1,471 days ago with a 2-1 success over Turkey and tonight in Berlin it reached a special milestone with a 1-0 defeat of Croatia. No team in the history of the FIFA World Cup™ has put together such a long, victorious streak as Brazil. It was not the stuff from which legends have been constructed but it was enough and the winning goal from Kaka a minute before the break was a peach. And it was one more goal than France managed.

As the 2002 champions carry on their winning ways, so the 1998 winners cannot shake off a sequence of disappointing results. A 0-0 draw with Switzerland - a first ever FIFA World Cup clean sheet for the Swiss - was not the start they were hoping for to banish the blues from four years ago. In the same Group G, Korea Republic turned round a first-half deficit to beat Togo 2-1.

Brazil will be hoping that this year's tournament starts and ends for them in Germany's capital. If they return to Berlin in 26 days' time, the winning run might have grown a good deal more, Ronaldo could have become the greatest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history and Cafu the player with more winning appearances in FIFA World Cup matches than any other. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. There were too many Croatian chances in the second half for this to be a concern-free zone for coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and his team.

Three times those wonderfully vivid tablecloth shirts were in position to score; three times they could do no more than aim the ball down Dida's throat. Player of the Day Kaka: the winning goal and some sublime touches At least the goal that carried the day lived up to Brazilian traditions as Kaka found space on the edge of the penalty area to shrug off the threat from three hovering defenders before caressing the ball high into the net. He was the 'Fab Four' member who most lived up to his reputation though there were some promising moments conjured by Ronaldinho.