Brazil and Belgium goalless at half-time - report

Brazil 0 Belgium 0

England’s watching players were no nearer to knowing who they would face in the quarter-finals as Brazil and Belgium were locked goalless at half-time in Kobe.

Both teams created good openings and Belgium captain Marc Wilmots had the ball in the net after 35 minutes but the goal was disallowed for pushing.

Brazil showed flashes of ability but did not look the free-wheeling side who had cruised through the first round against a stoic Belgian team.

Belgium launched the first attack of the match and Mpenza almost embarrassed goalkeeper Marcos, who had to back-pedal quickly to tip his chip over the top in the first minute.

Waseige’s team had made the brighter start and Brazil were troubled again when Yves Vanderhaeghe’s cross eluded everyone and ran out of play.

Brazil’s first threatening moment came from Juninho after five minutes, who drove a 20-yard effort wide after Ronaldinho had squared the ball to him.

Rivaldo sent in a dangerous inswinging corner from the right two minutes later but Gilberto Silva failed to make contact with his head as he rushed into the six-yard box.

Roberto Carlos then fired over with one of his signature free-kicks, though trying to beat Geert de Vlieger from about 40 yards was ambitious even for him.

The best chance so far fell to Ronaldo on 19 minutes when Ronaldinho found him free inside the box.

But the former World Player of the Year's curving shot fizzed just wide of the far post.

Brazil were beginning to assert themselves and Ronaldo curled a right-foot shot wide of the post in the 18th minute when Ronaldinho laid the ball left to him after a cunning run into the box.

Five minutes later Juninho released Ronaldo down the left flank with a raking pass, and the Inter Milan star’s cross was met by a bicycle kick from Rivaldo, but he failed to keep his effort down.

Belgium were fooled when Roberto Carlos made a dummy run at another free-kick and left it to the right foot of Ronaldinho, whose effort was headed away for a corner.

Belgium captain Marc Wilmots tried to emulate Rivaldo’s effort from further out in the 26th minute, and though his effort went closer than the Brazilians it was still comfortably over Marcos’ crossbar.

Roberto Carlos received a caution for tripping Gert Verheyen moments later, and then shinned an effort hopelessly wide after Juninho broke forward following a Belgium corner.

Belgium had the ball in the net in the 36th minute when Wilmots headed in a right-wing cross but the goal was ruled out by Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast for pushing on Roque Junior.

Brazil were stung by that scare and Juninho squared a pass to Ronaldo, who broke past three Belgian defenders but had his shot well smothered by de Vlieger.

Rivaldo then broke clear and drilled in a cross from the left but Ronaldo’s stretching volley flew just over the top with five minutes to go to half-time.

Ronaldinho, who was looking particularly lively, beat two Belgian defenders with nimble feet in the final minute of the half but his shot had the sting taken out of it.