Kaka's beautifully-struck goal gave World Cup holders and hot favourites Brazil a 1-0 win over Croatia in their Group F opener in Berlin on Tuesday night.

The five-times champions failed to live up to their star billing in the Olympiastadion, with a chubby Ronaldo putting in a particularly poor performance.

But ultimately they did enough to see off their opponents and collect the three points.

Brazil turned on the style early on, with Ronaldinho to the fore as he beat three Croatians with apparent ease.

Roberto Carlos went close in the 15th minute from far out, but goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was able to tip over before then performing more heroics to turn aside a Ronaldinho effort that was heading for the bottom corner.

But Croatia responded by carving out a couple of chances with both Niko Kranjcar and Ivan Klasnic getting a sight of goal.

Their chances were not helped when skipper Niko Kovac had to be replaced by Jerko Leko late in the first half after picking up a couple of blows to the ribs.

And a minute before half-time, Kaka raised the roof by breaking the deadlock with a brilliant goal.

Picking the ball up from Cafu, the AC Milan star drifted away from Kranjcar before curling a delicious shot into the top corner of the net.

The Croats appeared more adventurous after the break and both Dado Prso and Klasnic tested Dida in the Brazilian goal.

Finally Ronaldo got himself into the action after Kaka had dragged the Croatia defence out of position, and he delivered a vicious dipping shot from 25 yards that only just cleared the crossbar.

Ronaldinho came close to grabbing a second for Brazil with a bullet header from Cafu's searching cross, only for Pletikosa to pull off a reaction save.

Ronaldo cut a forlorn figure on 69 minutes as he was replaced by Robinho.

Marko Babic was left cursing after he wriggled free of his marker and slammed a low shot from 18 yards straight at Dida.

But there was to be no late joy for the Croatians and Brazil now top the group alongside Australia.