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ENGLAND v BRAZIL PREVIEW World Cup football home page _________________________________________________________________________ See the match report on England's World Cup 2002 quarter final game here.
England play Brazil in the quarter finals of the World Cup 2002 at 7.30 am (BST - British Summer Time) on Friday 21st June in Shizouka, Japan. This will be the first time England have met Brazil in the World Cup since their excellent match in the World Cup 1970 when Brazil won 1-0. The last time England played Brazil was in a friendly game on 26 May 2000 and the final result was 1-1 (Michael Owen scored first after 39 minutes but Franca equalised for Brazil just before half time). With England having done well in beating Denmark 3-0 in the last match, the England manager, Sven Goran Eriksson is unlikely to change the team. Eriksson said he was pleased that both Emile Heskey and Michael Owen had scored in the last game but said that "we must play as good as we did against Argentina if we want to beat Brazil".
Please click here to see the full England squad
Brazil came top of Group C by winning all their games and then beat Belgium 2-0 in the second round to set up this quarter final encounter with England. The Brazilian team against Belgium was: Marcos, Cafu, Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto, Juninho (Denilson 57), Rivaldo (Ricardinho 90), Ronaldinho (Kleberson 81), Ronaldo Brazil let Belgium have several chances to score, especially during the second half of the game and did not dominate the game as much as expected. When Brazil did go forward, however, they always looked dangerous and Ronaldo (5 goals so far) and Rivaldo (4 goals so far) look on top form. Their wing backs Cafu (right wing) and Roberto Carlos (left wing) also look dangerous going forward but can leave Brazil exposed to quick counter attacks. Brazil have class players throughout the team and are the favourites to lift the World Cup. Eriksson said that Brazil have the games most naturally gifted artists and that their football is always excellent to see. Cafu said that Brazil's three pronged attack of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho can stretch the England rearguard to breaking point. Team mate Juninho said "whoever wins this match has a great chance of being champions". The full 23 man Brazilian squad submitted to FIFA on 21 May was: Goalkeepers: 1. Marcos (Palmeiras), 22. Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo), 12. Dida (Corinthians) Defenders: 2. Cafu (AS Roma), 13. Belletti (Sao Paulo), 16. Junior (Parma), 6. Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), 3. Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen), 4. Roque Junior (AC Milan), 14. Anderson Polga (Gremio), 5. Edmilson (Lyons) Midfielders: 8. Gilberto Silva (Atletico Mineiro), 7. Emerson (AS Roma), 19. Juninho (Flamengo), 23. Kaka (Sao Paulo), 15. Kleberson (Atletico Paranaense), 18. Vampeta (Corinthians), 11. Ronaldinho Gaucho (Paris Saint Germain) Attackers: 9. Ronaldo (Inter Milan), 21. Luizao (Gremio), 20. Edilson (Cruzeiro), 17. Denilson (Real Betis), 10. Rivaldo (Barcelona) Emerson injured his shoulder in training after the squad was announced and was replaced by Ricardinho (Corinthians).
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