 England bowed out of the World
Cup after a 2-1 defeat to 10-man
Brazil after a pulsating battle
in Shizuoka. Sven-Goran Eriksson's men were
hit by a Ronaldinho-inspired
double strike in seven minutes
either side of the interval.
And though the Brazilian's
day was ruined when he was harshly
red carded for a stamp on Danny
Mills, England couldn't find
a vital second. It all looked so different
after 23 minutes when Michael
Owen put England in front, but
Rivaldo equalised in first half
injury time before Ronaldinho's
free-kick winner.
Had England been able to hold
on to their lead, it would have
been just reward for an almost
perfectly-executed first-half
plan. Though Brazil dominated
for long periods, they were
denied space around the box
and England's goal remained
largely untroubled.
However, Ronaldo did find space
to curl in a low shot which
was easy for David Seaman.
It took England 23 minutes
to threaten their opponents'
goal again, but when they did
Owen put England in front with
his 18th international strike. There appeared little danger
when Emile Heskey picked up
Mills' short pass on halfway.
But after his forward pass was
mis-judged by Lucio into the
path of Owen, the England striker
strode on and confidently chipped
the ball over Marcos. David Beckham, who required
treatment for a blow to his
right ankle, flashed a shot
over the bar as he lead the
search for a potentially match-winning
second.
Brazil regrouped though and
continued their forward offensive,
this time with slightly more
threat. Ronaldo produced a good
save from Seaman at his near
post before Campbell blocked
Kleberson's powerful 25-yard
effort. Then Mills needed to react
quickly to rob Ronaldo inside
the six-yard area after the
Brazilian hit-man had gathered
a fortunate rebound within striking
range. Seaman was another who needed
medical attention when he fell
awkwardly collecting a high
ball, tipping over Campbell
and landing on his side.
 For the remainder of the half,
England looked comfortable,
but Beckham's failure to run
the ball into touch two minutes
into injury time, set Brazil
in motion for the leveller. Scholes then failed to make
a vital tackle in midfield,
allowing Ronaldinho to sweep
forward. Ashley Cole was dragged
into the middle and with neither
Rio Ferdinand nor Sol Campbell
able to make a tackle, Rivaldo
drifted to the right, took the
easy pass and stroked a first-time
shot into the corner.
Most England fans were relieved
when Seaman was fit enough to
resume after the interval, but
within five minutes they were
reflecting on an error equally
as crass as those made by the
suspect Brazilian rearguard. As Ronaldinho lined up a free-kick
in an innocuous position, Seaman
pulled away from his line expecting
a cross. The Brazilian spotted
the opening and from 35 yards
floated the ball into the top
corner with the aid of the crossbar. It was a blow from which England
couldn't recover, even though
their opponents were reduced
to 10 men just 11 minutes after
the break when Mexican referee
Felipe Ramos Rizo ruled Ronaldinho
had stamped on Mills, even though
replays showed the player had
pulled out of the challenge.
For the first time in the competition,
England were behind and chasing
the game against opponents lethal
on the counter. Lucio cut out Heskey's cross
at the near post and Ferdinand
was unable to steer a header
from Beckham's free-kick on
target before Cole fired a shot
into the area which Brazil were
able to scramble away. Beckham went down in the box
under pressure from Roque Junior
and beat the ground in frustration
as Rizo waved away the penalty
appeal.
England continued to press
but Brazil never looked like
yielding their advantage and
long before the end, Beckham
and co had run out of ideas
even though Eriksson threw on
Darius Vassell and Teddy Sheringham
late on in a desperate search
for an equaliser.
England continued to press but Brazil never looked like yielding their advantage and long before the end, Beckham and Co had run out of ideas. |
Soccer Media
