June 17... Day 18
Any day is a good day to see Brazil play so, despite the fall-out from yesterday's festivities, I'm not suffering the Monday morning blues. And having a sneaking feeling that AMERICA might upset MEXICO, I'm looking forward to a bit of a shock. The USA might have been a little lucky to emerge from the group stage but, having been lifted by their progress, they might suddenly fancy their chances and they didn't take long to rattle the Mexicans.
Claudio Reyna got down the right, linked up with Wolff, and, before you could say 'This one's for The Alamo', Brian McBride tucked the lay-off away. Ahead after only 8 minutes, the Yanks were quite happy to let the Mexicans come at them, confident they could withstand the pressure and maybe nick another goal on the break. It was a risky strategy and they had a couple of close shaves, yet they might have extended their lead when Wolff found himself with only the keeper to beat but Oscar Peres made a good save.
The one-way traffic continued in the second half and Mexico came close on two or three occasions but it was the Americans who struck the killer blow after 64 minutes. Lewis broke free on the left and his cross was nodded home by Landon Donovan and Mexico then lost the plot, kicking everything above the grass, so it was no surprise when Rafael Marquez was sent off in the dying minutes following a clash with Cobi Jones.
Mexico were impressive against Croatia, Ecuador and Italy but they were a big disappointment today. Not only did they fail to seriously trouble their opponents, they lost their discipline as the game wore on and got exactly what they deserved. America, on the other hand, worked to a very effective game plan, played very well and may even have won by a more convincing margin. The Germans certainly won't enjoy facing them in the quarter-finals in Ulsan on Friday.
USA and Mexico were, however, no more than starters for the main course. The boys from BRAZIL seldom fail to impress and, being on a collision course with England, I couldn't help but giggle at TV suggestions that we should be rooting for BELGIUM, hoping they might do England a favour Do ME a favour! Brazil epitomize all that is good in the funny old game and the World Cup would be poorer without them so I want to see them go all the way, turning on the style big time against the English.
But first things first and Belgium had to be dealt with in Kobe. And full marks to the Belgians for making a game of it, instead of pulling everyone behind the ball and setting out to frustrate Brazil. Juninho and Ronaldo looked bright at the start but Rivaldo has yet to show what a class act he is and it was Belgium who came closest to breaking the deadlock when Marc Wilmots sent a well-placed header into the net, only to have it rather harshly disallowed for pushing.
Perhaps it was the wake-up call Brazil needed. Moments later Ronaldo burst through and it took a brave save from the keeper to thwart him, the Inter Milan then got on to the end of a Rivaldo cross but shot over the top and just before the break a run and shot from Ronaldinho came close. But the scoresheet remained blank at the interval and the English began to hope that there might be a possibility of them avoiding a gubbing from the game's true masters.
Belgium were the better team at the start of the second half and twice forced Brazilian keeper Marcos to look lively and Clive Tyldesley began to talk seriously about the prospect of England facing the Belgians. I'll bet he wishes he hadn't tempted fate. In the 67th minute Rivaldo took the ball on his chest, turned sharply on the edge of the box and fired in a superb left foot shot which, aided ever so slightly by a deflection, whistled past goalkeeper De Vlieger and into the net. Brazilliant!
The Belgians kept at it, making sure Brazil couldn't relax, but you always felt they had something up their sleeve and four minutes from the end they killed the game stone deal. Kleberson broke clear on the right, centred to Ronaldo and the great one slotted it into the net. Bring on England!
Much to my amazement, the talk in the TV studio is now about England beating Brazil. Nae chance! OK, Belgium made them work hard but the samba superstars always looked like they had more to offer and at no time did I worry about them losing this one. If the English want to kid themselves that they've got a chance on Friday they are only setting themselves up for a major disappointment. Talk of Rio Ferdinand being as good as Bobby Moore will be exposed as the nonsense it is when Ronaldo runs him ragged and I'm hoping we'll see a bit more of the real Rivaldo.
Meanwhile, I'm off to the cream-cookies to pick up a shilling or two (a tenner on Brazil to win 2-0 5/1) and I fancy a similar outcome in Shizuoka on Friday. C'mon Brazil, make it happen!