SHIZUOKA, Japan, 21 June — The meanest defense comes face to face with the most potent strike force here today as World Cup favorites Brazil take on England in a potential classic quarterfinal clash.
With Ronaldo and Rivaldo in sparkling form the Brazilians have scored an impressive 13 goals in four matches while England’s miserly rearguard have leaked just one in the same number of games.
If England can beat the multitalented South Americans they have an excellent chance to win the trophy they won for the first and only time back in 1966.
But Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side, conquerors of pre-tournament favorites Argentina in the group stages, first have to tame five-goal Ronaldo and four-goal Rivaldo if they are to set up a semifinal clash against Senegal of Turkey.
Gritty midfielder Nicky Butt, who has stepped out of the shadows to help steer England to the last eight, believes every player has to be aware of his defensive responsibilities if they are to silence the samba kings.
“The game can be won if we defend right and that applies to the whole team,” he said.
“The midfield and the forwards will have to come back and help out as well. Generally it’s going to be a team effort because Brazil have so many world class players who can change a game in a second.
“It’s going to be difficult but if we defend well as a team we can get at them.”
Veteran striker Teddy Sheringham said Brazil would provide England with their toughest test yet but was encouraged by what he saw when the South Americans beat Belgium 2-0 in the previous round.
“They’re very good going forward with plenty of flair and the crowd love seeing them. They’re always likely to score goals,” he said.
“They all showed glimpses of brilliance and that gives us something to think about. We have to be wary all over the pitch.
“But the Belgians had a lot of opportunities against them and that gives you a lot of hope. They had a goal disallowed that looked good enough to us and that would have changed the game.
“We have to be on top of our game from the very start. We have to attack and be positive and not let them come on to us or we will be in trouble.
“We also have to make sure we are ready for everything they throw at us and give as good as get.”
Ronaldo believes Brazil must not change their tactics and stick to their natural attacking game against England.
The tournament’s joint top-scorer said that it would be a mistake to adapt the way they play to counter the main English threat from David Beckham or Michael Owen.
“We shouldn’t worry ourselves too much about how the English are going to play against us,” he said.
“At the end of the day it’s up to us to go out there and win the match on the field.
“We must go on to the attack and keep them under pressure and not get too concerned about the players that are on the other side and what they are going to do to us,” said the Inter Milan forward.
“England have made a lot of progress in the last few years. They have a talented midfield with good ball-winners and they are capable of quickly moving from one end of the field to the other.
“I think it looks like being a very open game and as for me what matters is that the team scores not that I finish as top scorer.”
England’s Owen and Paul Scholes are both expected to be fit after recovering from minor injuries.
Owen suffered a groin strain in the second round win over Denmark while Scholes bruised his foot.
Fears over Owen in particular had been running high after he pulled out of a scheduled press conference on Tuesday.
The Liverpool striker’s pace and ability to run at defenders would be severely missed by England if he were to be ruled out.
Scholes would also be a huge loss having been one of England’s most influential players in midfield.
Bayer Leverkusen central defender Lucio will be fit in time to take his place in the Brazil side after recovering from a sore knee. Today’s clash rekindles memories of their epic first round clash at the 1970 finals in Mexico.
The incomparable Pele had a header stopped by English goalkeeper Gordon Banks in the ‘save of the century’ and Jairzinho’s drive gave Brazil victory in a match which has entered footballing legend. The side regarded as Brazil’s greatest ever went on to outclass Italy 4-1 in the final. England lost to Germany in the quarterfinals.
