Rivaldo and Ronaldo come to Brazil's rescue

By James Whelan

A MOMENT of genius, a touch of luck and one very curious refereeing decision sent Brazil into the World Cup’s last eight and an eagerly awaited quarter final with England.

However, while their 2-0 second round victory over Belgium was convincing enough in the end, watching England coach Sven Goran Eriksson and his players would also have seen first hand the obvious weaknesses in the Brazil team - their porous defence and a mediocre midfield.

Their win was due entirely to gifted strikers Rivaldo and Ronaldo. Nullify them and England will dare to hope. Belgium, playing their best football for years, did more than enough to expose Brazil’s fragility and England will be hoping that their strikers will have more success - and luck.

Belgium created plenty of chances but wasted them with poor finishing. When they did get the ball on target they were denied by Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos who had a fine game.

However, unlike Brazil, who scored with a spectacular goal from Rivaldo after 67 minutes and added a second through Ronaldo three minutes from the end, Belgium had nothing to show for themselves at the end of a match which, in defeat, marks the end of Robert Waseige’s tenure as

national coach.

The one time they did get the ball in the net from a Marc Wilmots header after 36 minutes, Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast curiously disallowed the goal. Television replays failed to provide conclusive evidence of any wrong doing by the Belgian skipper who out jumped defender Roque Junior to score.

At worst, Wilmots might have nudged the big Brazilian defender before both leapt for the ball - but if every referee blew for such slight infringements, no one would ever score a goal.

The referee indicated a push and Belgium’s celebrations ended before they had begun.

Although Brazil were clearly the more flamboyant side with their players showing greater invention and creativity than the Belgians, Belgium brought considerable qualities of their own to the game.

They were organised, industrious and defended well with Gert Verheyen - a far better midfielder in defence than he will ever be going forward - dropping back to reinforce the over worked, but competent back line.

The goal, when it came, showed just why Brazil can never be written off as possible winners of this increasingly open World Cup.

Rivaldo struck after controlling a high pass from Ronaldinho on his chest with his back to goal, bringing the ball under control with his next touch and then scoring on the turn with a shot that deflected off defender Timmy Simons.

There was no doubt that Rivaldo’s control was superb - but that deflection off Simons gave Geert de Vlieger no chance in the goal.

Ronaldo matched his team mate’s goal a game record with a left foot strike from inside the area three minutes from time after a superb approach run and cross from substitute Kleberson who had only been on for a few minutes.

"The Cup starts now, every match is going to be a final," said Ronaldo, who to all intents and purposes missed the last World Cup final even though he was there physically.

France won that match 3-0 and Ronaldo, taken ill before the final with real or imaginary demons, is only now returning to anything like the form of the mid 1990s when he was the best player in the world.

So Brazil advance to face England in what is likely to be one of the most memorable matches of the tournament. Every time Brazil have met England in the World Cup - in 1958, 1962 and 1970 - they have gone on to win the trophy.

BRAZIL: Marcos, Cafu, Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Carlos, Gilberto, Juninho Paulista (Denilson 57), Rivaldo (Ricardinho 90), Ronaldinho (Kleberson 81), Ronaldo.

BELGIUM: de Vlieger, Van Kerckhoven, Van Buyten, Peeters (Sonck 73), Simons, Wilmots, Goor, Verheyen, Vanderhaeghe, Walem, Mpenza.