The Hindu : Brazil and England revive rivalry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 21, 2002

Sport

Sport - Football

Brazil and England revive rivalry

SHIZUOKA June 20. It's been called the World Cup for the minnows, but Brazil vs. England is strictly a battle of barracudas.

With a host of newcomers making history in the final eight, England and Brazil will be reviving theirs on Friday in a quarterfinal match-up steeped in tradition — the nation that invented soccer against its most decorated team.

Brazil has won the World Cup a record four times, England once. Along with three-time champion Germany, they're the only past winners left in a World Cup of upsets and upstarts.

``This could be the most important game of the Cup,'' Brazilian winger Roberto Carlos said.

It also pits the tournament's stingiest defence against its most prolific offence. England's backline has allowed just one goal in four games, while Brazil's swarming attack has scored 13 — nine by strikers Ronaldo and Rivaldo.

``We respect the English, they have a great team, but we have players who can decide the game at any moment,'' Rivaldo said.

While Brazil holds an edge over England in their past meetings, rarely have they been more evenly matched. After a disastrous qualifying campaign, Brazil got a late start on World Cup preparations and is just now hitting its stride. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari calls his team ``reasonable to good,'' but says it's still not playing up to potential.

England, with field general David Beckham and striker Michael Owen, has added a ground game to its traditionally competent air attack. Backed by a granite defence, the British are more dangerous than ever.

Brazil longs to erase the painful memories of the '98 World Cup, when it reached the final as the heavy favourite but lost 3-0 to host France. And no one is more eager than Ronaldo, who had convulsions hours before the final game and played poorly.

He already has dispelled any lingering doubts that he can still play with the best, after a two-year absence for knee surgery. With five goals, he's tied with Germany's Miroslav Klose in the race for the Golden Boot. ``This could be my World Cup,'' the Inter striker said.

For Ronaldinho — the third `R' in Brazil's Triple R attack — Brazil must use its quickness and fine ball control to penetrate the English defence. ``We can't go body to body with them, because their players are all strong and tall,'' he said. ``We have to be quicker than they are.''

Still, Brazilians know it's not just muscle. They have tremendous respect for the team's ball-handling skills — and in particular for David Beckham. Free kick specialist Roberto Carlos defers to Beckham, and Rivaldo says few players have superior skills.

``He's a fantastic player,'' Rivaldo said. ``He hits the ball so well that the ball on his foot is half a goal.''

Brazil's weak link may be its defence, which has looked shaky. Still, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he won't put special coverage on Beckham or Owen and has England figured out. ``I know everything about England,'' he said. ``I know just what I'm going to do.''

England is out to prove that its only World Cup victory was no fluke, when it won in 1966 on its home turf. Rio Ferdinand anchors a defence that blanked Argentina, Nigeria and Denmark and allowed just a single goal against Sweden.

Up front, Owen is nursing a groin injury he sustained in England's 3-0 win over Denmark but is expected to face Brazil.

``I don't think they are worried about playing England,'' Beckham said. ``But then I don't think we are too worried about playing against them, either. That's the sort of confidence we must have.''

Meanwhile, Mexico's Felipe Ramos Rizo would referee the encounter. The 39-year-old, who refereed the 2000 Olympic final between Cameroon and Spain, is no stranger to Brazil. He was the man with the whistle when Ecuador beat Brazil 1-0 in a 2002 World Cup qualifier. — AP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport