From: Hildegaard Beauregard [ljlife@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 7:03 AM
To: Lee Jerome Life
Subject: Ready for a classic match-up?

Reporting from World Cup Watch Central.

Is the rival of my rival my friend or my rival?

What will happen when the two biggest rivals of
Argentina go against each other? What will happen when
the team from the birthplace of modern football meets
the team from the land of its greatest practitioners
on the world stage in the last century?

The date is set for the two most legendary football
nations to meet in this World Cup. Not since 1970 has
England played Brazil in a World Cup match, but they
will do so on Friday in Japan (11:30 p.m., Thursday,
Pacific Time).

Brazil defeated Belgium 2-0 to advance to the
quarterfinals against England. It may seem unfair to
treat Belgium as moot, but it was hard not to
anticipate England, especially as David Beckham and
company were on hand to watch the Belgium v. Brazil
match and the camera picked them out.

Belgium would not be treated so lightly, however,
especially during the first half of the match. After
some early typical pressure by the Brazil playmakers,
Belgium put on some pressure of their own, and were
alert enough to gradually slow Brazil down. The first
half ended 0-0, and Brazil looked a bit frustrated and
out of rhythm.

It took Brazil until the 67th minute to break through.
Ronaldinho, moving across the top of the penalty area,
anticipated the advance of the Belgian defenders and
flicked on towards Rivaldo. Rivaldo stopped the ball
with his chest, controlled it with a tap of his foot,
then swung around to launch it with a side kick.
Belgian goalkeeper Geert de Vlieger was moving into
the path of the ball, but a Belgian defender got a
foot on it just enough that it deflected it right past
de Vlieger and into the net.

Belgium began to press as time was running out, and
paid for the risk in the 87th minute. Brazilian
substitute Kleberson got a fast break down the right
side and shot the ball across to Ronaldo approaching
the left side of the box. As Ronaldo was passing the
defender, he sent the ball right through the legs of
de Vlieger and into the goal.

Are you ready for that, David Beckham?

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