All at Seaman

Not even the sending off of Ronaldinho could hand England a lifeline back into the game that had started so well with a superb Michael Owen strike.

But with a well-worked Rivaldo equaliser and a freak second from Ronaldinho free-kick - which will surely haunt Seaman for the rest of his days - Brazil did sat back and defended, even playing to the corners to run down the clock to move into the last four.

Arsenal man Seaman cut a sorry figure at the end of the game, with the 38-year-old trying hard to keep his emotions in check as the realisation of his error that allowed Ronaldinho's free-kick go over his head and into the net sunk in at the final whistle.

Not even consoling arms of David Beckham, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Ray Clemence and Co will count for much for the experienced shot-stopper who has been England's saviour on so many occasions in the past.

So perhaps it is a sad reflection on Seaman's career, that he will be remembered for one mistake rather than his moments of magic.

And the blame for the defeat shouldn't be put onto the shoulders of just one man with England's performance with the extra man little more than dreadful.

In the searing 86 degree heat, this was never going to be an end-to-end, action-packed affair, as both sides looked conserve their energy.

A tense, cagey opening saw both sides pushing and probing to see what their opponents had to offer. Almost predictably it was the English defence which was showing to solidity in the face of the Brazilian attack, while at the other end the Samba Kings struggled to get to get going.

And this was highlighted after 23 minutes when England's Liverpool front-line combined to unpick the Brazilian defence. Danny Mills found Emile Heskey unmarked in the centre of the park, and without a second thought he lifted the ball towards Michael Owen.

It wasn't the best of balls as Lucio came across to cover, but the Brazilian centre-half - almost to underline the frailties in the South Americans back line - couldn't control. Owen nipped in, dummied Marcus and as the Brazilian keeper went down, he lifted the ball into the net.

But the joy of the England fans was quickly turned fear as David Beckham, who had risen to the challenge of the midfield duel, went down clutching his right foot and had to be carried off.

Some running repairs saw Beckham hobble back on, but Brazil were quick to take advantage of the uncertainty in the England side, with Ronaldo beating Ashley Cole on the outside before firing his shot at the legs of Seaman.

Beckham, showing no ill-effects from the knock, fired a spectacular volley over the bar, while Heskey's looping header sailed over. However it was the Brazilians who were looking the more dangerous around the box.

But stout defending limited Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Kleberson and Ronaldinho to pot shots which were either blocked or caused Seaman no problems. It also took a timely interception from Mills to dispose Ronaldo when the Inter Milan danger man had the his finger on the trigger.

However, just when England looked to be heading into the break with a 1-0 lead, they were caught on the break after Paul Scholes was dispossessed in midfield.

The trickery of Ronaldinho had the England defence at sixes and sevens, with Cole guilty of letting his man escape, before he slotted an inch-perfect pass to Rivaldo and the Newcastle target needed no second invite to hit a first-time left-footed effort past Seaman.

Worst was to come just after the break as Brazil took the lead from a freak goal. When Ronaldinho lined up his free-kick from 35 yards out and to the right of the box there seemed to be little danger. However, instead of curling in a cross, Ronaldinho went for goal and with Seaman misreading the situation, the ball sailed over the Arsenal man and into the net.

England tried to hit back immediately and it took Lucio to deflect Heskey's cross wide and Junior to prevent Cole's ball reaching the unmarked Heskey.

But England were handed the chance to work their way back into the game when Ronaldinho was red-carded. The instant showing of the red card from Mexican referee Felipe Ramos Rizo, who had already sent off three reds before this match, shocked everyone, but the replays of the incident showed Ronaldinho go in with his studs showing on Mills.

Unfortunately try as they might, England were unable to create any clear-cut openings, with too many long balls sent to the box as the Brazilian shut up shop.

The best effort fell to Mills, but his shot was over, just like England's World Cup hopes.

Updated: 09:46 Friday, June 21, 2002