BRAZIL-CROATIA: Coaches’ Quotes

13 June 2006

Carlos Alberto PARREIRA (Brazil)

At the World Cup, it’s important to start with a win because it breeds confidence. It’s a case of playing seven games, and tonight we’ve taken the first step. I think it was a tremendous result. Of course we can improve, but that will happen as we get more games under our belt. Croatia are a good team and they are having a good run of form. They play at a decent tempo, and they didn’t give our players any time on the ball.

We found it difficult to get through them because they got tight to our midfielders. But we had plenty of shots, maybe 12 or 13, and we managed to get the goal we were looking for. I didn’t think we would be up to speed yet, and if we want to go further in the tournament we can’t afford to play flat out at this stage. We played at about 60 or 70 per cent, and I was perfectly happy with that.

Ronaldo will start the next game. He’s lacking a little bit of sharpness, and he can only get that if he plays. He’s a key player for us and he will get better.

Zlatko KRANJCAR (Croatia)
It was a great game but we didn’t deserve to lose. For a good part of the game we were the better team. Against a great team like Brazil it just takes one mistake, and it’s all over. That’s exactly what happened, but I have to give credit to my players. We’ve shown tonight that we’re more than capable of going further in the tournament.

I don’t think the Brazilians played in second gear. I wasn’t expecting more from them; we got to grips with them and didn’t let them play. Our good form in the warm-up games was an important factor tonight. We were in good shape, and you need to be if you are going to compete with Brazil.

I’m still not sure of the extent of Niko Kovac’s injury, but we hope that he will be fit to play against Japan. If he doesn’t make it, (Jerko) Leko will play, and I’ve got every confidence in him.