The No. 1 Unofficial World Cup Website

Michael Owen broke the deadlock on 23 minutes with a delightful piece of finishing. Emile Heskey saw his teammate breaking down the left and launched a long ball over, Brazilian defender Lucio should have cleared it - but an awful touch allowed Owen in to dink the ball over Marcos in the Brazilian goal.

Brazil - startled by the goal - really moved into top gear, sending wave after wave of attacks crashing down on Seaman’s goal. It was only a matter of time before the inevitable happened.

Two minutes into first-half injury time, Ronaldinho picked up the ball just inside his own half. The dentally over-endowed playmaker strolled through the England midfield with ease and played in Rivaldo who was waiting on the edge of England’s penalty area. The Barcelona playmaker unleashed a shot into the bottom right-hand corner and past the diving Seaman, in what was the last kick of the first-half.

Minutes after the restart Ronaldinho turned from goal maker to heart breaker. Paul Scholes brought down Kleberson outside England’s penalty-area and Brazil were awarded a free-kick.

Ronaldinho stepped up to take the set-piece and while everybody was waiting for a cross, the Brazilian hit an audacious strike over David Seaman and into the England goal.

Just seven minutes later Ronaldinho was harshly sent-off for a challenge on Danny Mills. And suddenly there was renewed hope for England as they continued to search for the equaliser.

Eriksson tried to change around the tactics, playing 4-3-3 and bringing on Teddy Sheringham and Darius Vassell for Ashley Cole and Michael Owen respectively. The change did little to help England’s cause though, and the Brazilians were just too strong for England.

Overall England’s performance was disappointing - and it was a desperately disappointing way for them to go out of the World Cup.