Samba Boys slay brave Wales

BRAZIL won as everybody expected with skill and joyful football but the memory for Wales was that they were never overawed or overpowered by the supreme South Americans.

Marcelo and Vagner Love scored second-half goals to give Brazil their second victory in London in three days, following their eclipsing of Argentina on Sunday.

But Wales showed defiance, resilience in defence where Danny Gabbidon was outstanding, and sheer graft and hard work.

Ryan Giggs matched anything Brazil could produce, and that is saying something with Ronaldinho and Kaka on the pitch, and youngster Gareth Bale played with maturity beyond his years.

Wales held out for an hour before Marcelo’s long-range strike, and Vagner Love’s clever flicked header completed the victory.

Wales’ youngsters and lower division players will take this performance with them into more serious Euro 2008 combat knowing that they managed to live with the world’s elite.

Bale, Southampton’s 17-year-old starlet, plunged into the biggest game of his life, never looked overawed, producing control, positioning and tackling that belied his tender years. John Toshack will find difficulty keeping out of his senior side.

The Samba boys brought Brazilian humidity with them to north London. And their legion of fans — of all nationalities these days, it seems — were intent on a carnival.

But it was all about Ronaldinho, who had recovered from the muscle injury that ruled him out of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Argentina at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Ronaldinho brought squeals of delight every time he touched the ball, as Brazil cruised forward.

Brazil finally scored after 58 minutes when Marcelo unleashed a dipping, swerving 25-yard shot that evaded Paul Jones’ dive.

Brazil struck again after 73 minutes when Cicinho’s cross was deftly flicked home by Vagner Love’s head.

WALES: Jones, Duffy (Edwards 64), Bale (Ledley 46), Gabbidon, Collins, Nyatanga, Bellamy, Earnshaw (Cotterill 77), Robinson (Fletcher 53), Davies (Vaughan 68), Giggs (Ricketts 46).

BRAZIL: Gomes, Maicon (Cicinho 59), Luisao, Alex, Edmilson (Silva 46), Marcelo (Gilberto 74), Cearense, Kaka (Elano 72), Vagner Love, Ronaldinho (Robinho 67), Julio Baptista (Rafael Sobis 78).

Ref: M Riley (England).