By The Associated Press

After a week of controversy and infighting among its players and federation regarding payment for making the World Cup, and the resignation of its coach, Togo made it’s World Cup debut against South Korea. Otto Pfister, who earlier announced he was leaving the team, was on the bench for Togo’s 2-1 loss. Pfister was dressed in jeans and a blue shirt rather than the red and white uniform of team officials, but the 68-year-old German was clearly in charge, jumping from his seat on the bench to give instructions in the opening minutes.

France and Switzerland, who tied 1-1 and 0-0 in qualifying, tied again in their World Cup opener.

Brazil, seeking a sixth championship that would double any other country, edged Croatia 1-0.

STARS

– Ahn Jung-hwan, South Korea, scored on a 25-yard shot in the 72nd minute, to help his team to a 2-1 win over Togo.

– Kaka, Brazil, scored his team’s first goal of the tournament on a curling shot from above the penalty area to HISTORY

South Korea won a World Cup match outside its own borders for the first time, rallying from a one-goal deficit to beat Togo 2-1. In 14 prior World Cup matches, dating back to 1954, the South Koreans had 10 losses and four ties away from their home soil. As co-host in 2002, South Korea advanced to the semifinals, defeating Poland and Portugal in the first round, Italy in overtime in the second round, and Spain on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals.

GOAL OF THE DAY

Tuesday’s top goal was also Togo’s first of the tournament. In the 31st minute against South Korea, Alaixys Romao played a long ball from the right side near midfield toward the center. The pass came down on the thigh of Mohamed Kader, who played the ball to his feet and split two Korean defenders. Kader dribbled into the penalty area and sent a right-footed shot from about 16 yards into the far corner.

LOOK AHEAD

The final set of opening games today features the Spain and Ukraine in Leipzig, and Tunisia against Saudi Arabia in Munich. Both European teams have star players nursing injuries. Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, one of the world’s most dynamic scorers, has been battling a knee injury and nobody is saying how healthy he is. Longtime Spanish star Raul Gonzalez, in his third World Cup, has struggled since partially tearing a left knee ligament in November. Spain’s all-time leading scorer with 43 goals went seven months without a goal until a friendly against Egypt 10 days ago and coach Luis Aragones may leave him on the bench.

Tunisia, the 2004 winner of the African Cup of Nations, is making its third consecutive appearance at the World Cup. Saudi Arabia got off to a terriible start in the 2002 tournament, losing to Germany by an embarrassing 8-0. A tie will probably not be enough for either team to advance from Group H.

In the late game, the host Germans play Poland in Dortmund in the first match involving teams that already have played in the tournament. After losing to Ecuador in its opener, Poland needs to take at least a point to improve its chances of advancing.

QUOTABLE

“If he’s any kind of a player and a man, he understands that. If he doesn’t, then he’s not going to be able to help us in Games 2 or 3, either.” – U.S. coach Bruce Arena on his criticism of DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley was one of several players Arena uncharacteristically criticized in public for poor play in the Americans’ 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic on Monday.

“When you see how many German flags are flying from windows, that’s a development that was long overdue, while not forgetting what happened in this country before.” – German defender Christoph Metzelder on the re-emergence of national pride and flag waving during the World Cup. For decades, Germans viewed flag-waving as a shameful reminder of the atrocities of World War II.