BRAZIL SPENT the first 30 minutes yesterday playing as if they were in an exhibition game, then Japan scored and the world champions suddenly remembered they had a World Cup match to win.

It all turned out nicely in the end as Ronaldo, heavily criticised for his sluggish displays in the first two games, scored twice to help them to a 4-1 success.

Ronaldo's double - a header late in the first half and a neat finish in the second - took his World Cup tally to 14 and equalled that of former West Germany forward Gerd Mueller.

Mueller, who starred in the German sides of 1970 and '74, might point out that one of Ronaldo's goals in 2002 was strictly an own goal but there is plenty of time for the Real Madrid man to make the record undoubtedly his own - starting with a second round meeting with Ghana back in the same Dortmund stadium next Tuesday.

It will be an intriguing duel as the fearless and highly-physical west African side are unlikely to show Brazil the same respect Japan did, especially in the first 30 minutes.

Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka and Robinho, usually unmolested as they took aim, took it in turns to unload shots and only some sharp work by goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and wasteful finishing kept it at 0-0.

The crowd was loving it, Ronaldinho was showing his trickery around the box and even Ronaldo's bright yellow boots were moving with speed and precision.

Japan were spectators but when striker Keiji Tamada showed the Brazilians how to finish with a superb left-footed strike in the 34th minute, the complexion changed.

Brazil, if not exactly stunned by conceding their first goal in seven internationals, were at least forced to roll up their sleeves a little.

The tricks dried up and they seemed set to trail at the break before Ronaldo was left unmarked to head an injury-time equaliser.

RESUMED CONTROL

Panic over, they resumed control and soon settled the result with goals by Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto.

Adriano and Ricardinho were introduced as substitutes for the last 20 minutes while regular starters Emerson, Cafu and Roberto Carlos remained on the bench in an ominous display of the squad's strength in depth.

Ronaldo, said by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to merely need game time to get back to his best, showed another glimpse of his old self when he combined sharply with Juan before driving him his second and Brazil's fourth nine minutes from time.

As so often before, Brazil have not lit up the first round but for all the fireworks of Argentina and Spain and the ominous efficiency of Germany and Italy, they remain the team you have to beat if you want to win the World Cup.