SHIZUOKA, Japan, 23 June — Not for the first time an England World Cup campaign ended in tears.
Twelve years after Paul Gascoigne’s torment in Turin, 38-year-old goalkeeper David Seaman was the one left drying his eyes as England crashed out of the Japan and South Korea tournament.
The Arsenal veteran, making his 73rd international appearance, was caught out by a floated second half free-kick from Ronaldinho which flew over his head from 35 yards and handed Brazil a narrow 2-1 quarterfinal victory at the Ecopa stadium.
It had all started so promisingly for England who took the lead through Michael Owen but Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men were pegged back in first half injury time by Rivaldo’s deadly strike.
England’s fate was sealed after the break when Seaman blundered and Brazil held on to book a place in the semifinals, despite the sending-off of goal hero Ronaldhino for a challenge on Danny Mills.
Seaman, playing in what is likely to be his last major tournament, was inconsolable after the match and twice broke down in tears.
“It is very hard to take but that’s just life as a goalkeeper. The main thing is I want to say sorry to the fans,” he said.
Ironically Seaman spoke about the pitfalls of being a goalkeeper before flying out for the World Cup.
“I always know that I am one mistake away from trouble. As a goalkeeper you can be a hero for 89 minutes and then all of a sudden ‘bang’, you’ve made an error and the game’s over,” he said, referring to his error which gave Real Zaragoza a last minute win over Arsenal in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final seven years ago.
Seaman was left hopelessly flapping at a 50-yard lob from Spanish midfielder Nayim, a mistake that marred an otherwise faultless display.
“I had actually had a great game that day and had made plenty of saves and then that happened. Nightmare,” he added.
“Of course, that’s what people remember and I suppose it’s what I remember. The last kick of the match. I must admit, that reminded me of the pitfalls of the profession.”
Eriksson may now be having second thoughts about who his first-choice goalkeeper should be, but the Swede certainly had no doubts on the eve of the quarterfinal against Brazil.
“David Seaman still has the desire. He’s very keen on working. He’s very precise in his work and what he eats and how to live and so on,” declared the England coach on Thursday. “He is still very fit and quick and you cannot buy experience. Whether he carries on until the Euro 2004 finals is, I think, very much up to him.”
Eriksson may want to consider that Friday’s clanger was not the first time Seaman has been found wanting for England.
When England lost a crunch 1994 World Cup qualifier to Holland it was his mistake that handed the Dutch a 2-0 victory, a result which cost England a place at the USA finals.
