It was just too easy for the Brazilians last night against Morocco in their second outing at this tournament. After the man himself, Ronaldo, had opened the scoring in only the 10th minute, the referee could have been forgiven for stopping the match there and then to avoid unnecessary punishment on the hapless Moroccans.

The North African side had looked forward eagerly to this chance to match themselves with the world's best. In the end, they went down with stage fright and ended up receiving a severe lesson in the art of football. Sadly for the Moroccans, their major contribution to the game was a series of fouls (one nasty one in particular by Said Chiba on Ronaldo in the 18th minute) rather than the silken skills they had shown in their opening 2-2 draw with Norway.

As for the Brazilians, it is now official. This side is potentially a far better one than the team which won the tournament four years ago - there's a thought for you. Players such as Cafu at right back, Roberto Carlos at left back, Rivaldo in the centre and Ronaldo in attack all offer this side awesome possibilities when moving forward. Even as experienced a player as Bebeto, who scored the third goal just after halftime and, of course, a mainstay of the side in America four years ago, looks like a lesser light in this company.

Fittingly, Brazil are the first side to qualify for the second round as winners of their group, since with six points from their opening two games, they cannot be caught by the other teams, Norway (two points), Scotland and Morocco (one point each).

One intriguing outcome of this match is that it immediately heightens the pressure on Italy in Group B. Remember, the side that comes second in Group B faces Brazil in the next round. Italy have been warned and had better go to work against Cameroon today. Likewise, Scotland may take heart from this result, reasoning that they could well get a result against a dispirited Morocco in their decisive third clash in St Etienne in a week's time.

Before the game, Brazilian critics had complained that Mario Zagallo's side is too "exposed", that Junior Baiano in central defence is too unsure, that full backs Roberto Carlos and Cafu spend too much time in attack and that Cesar Sampaio is simply not skilful enough to play in central midfield.

These criticisms could all contain a grain of truth but it will take more severe opposition than Morocco to provide the textual evidence.

Brazil last night built on the huge promise shown in the opening 20 minutes against Scotland in the inaugural World Cup game at the Stade de France last week. Opening up the Moroccan defence was simply too easy and in the 10th minute, Rivaldo lobbed a perfect pass through to Ronaldo, of all people.

The world's number one shimmied one way and then struck a well placed shot from the edge of the penalty area to open his account at these finals and join the ranks of the top marksmen, Gabriel Batistuta, Davor Suker, Alan Shearer, Juergen Klinsmann, Adrian Ilie, and Sinisa Mijhalovic who have all already got on the scoresheet.

It will come as a huge surprise if this is the only goal that Ronaldo scores at France 98.

From there on the football flowed, the Brazilians bobbed and danced to the rhythms being drummed out by their enthusiastic fans. It was only a case of who and when for the next goal. The who was Rivaldo and the when was in time added on at the end of the first half.

This was a classic Brazilian goal with Bebeto knocking it wide to Cafu whose first-time cross was all too easy for Rivaldo to slide home. Soccer coaches looking for video evidence of the perfect first-time touch goal should think about this one.

Speaking after the game, Brazilian coach Zagallo thanked the Moroccans for playing "joyful" football. Others might not be so charitable about the Moroccans whose considerable defensive problems start with goalkeeper Driss Benzekri.

None of which will bother either Brazil or Bebeto, who scored the third goal five minutes into the second half. After that, Brazil might have done more but it mattered little. As Zagallo said afterwards: "We have won nothing yet . . . but at least we did play with joy, happiness and determination."