|
| June 7th 2005 |
Madrid, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
|
| BRAZIL - BELGIUM |
4-2 (2-1)
|
GOALS 17' 0-1 Jef Mermans
24' 1-1 Ronaldo
35' 2-1 Ricardo Gomes
58' 3-1 Pelé
68' 3-2 Jan Ceulemans
87' 4-2 Romario
REFEREE Maurice Guigue (France)
ATTENDANCE 90,000
YELLOW CARDS Ricardo Gomes (BRA) - Gerets, Thissen (BEL)
RED CARDS Vandereycken (BEL)
BRAZIL (Coach: Mario Zagalo, system 4-4-2)
1 Claudio Taffarel
14 Carlos Alberto
3 Luiz Pereira
15 Ricardo Gomes
6 Nilton Santos
7 Garrincha (-61)
8 Toninho Cerezo
5 Dunga (captain)
10 Didi (-85)
10 Pelé
9 Ronaldo (-70)
Substitutes:
19 Jairzinho (+61)
12 Romario (+70)
18 Gerson (+85)
BELGIUM (Coach: Guy Thijs, system 4-3-3)
1 Christian Piot
2 Eric Gerets
3 Armand Swartenbroeks (captain)
4 Laurent Verbiest
19 Jean Thissen (-84)
8 Wilfried Van Moer (-74)
11 Jan Ceulemans
7 René Vandereycken
14 Raymond Braine
9 Jef Mermans
10 Rik Coppens (-82)
Substitutes:
17 Vincenzo Scifo (+74)
13 Paul Van Himst (+82)
20 Bernard Voorhoof (+84)
MATCHREPORT
The question before this match was, whether the steady Belgians would be able to make Samba Brazil sweat. The answer was, maybe to
surprise of many, yes! The zonal defence developed by tactical wizard Guy Thijs worked quite well. Laurent Verbiest was back in the role of
sweeper and he led his defence with authority, so Pelé and Ronaldo were limited in their freedom. Still their possibilities were big enough to
score 4 goals and Brazil reached the last 8 deservedly. But it was a tough ride for Zagalo's men.
The Brazilian coach had left Cafu out. The right back had sustained a knock on his ankle in an earlier match and wasn't fit enough to
face Belgium and lifewire Rik Coppens. With Carlos Alberto there was a worthy replacement at hand. For the rest Zagalo could field his first
choice. Garrincha was still preferred to Jairzinho but it had cost Zagalo some sleep to decide about it. Belgium were at full strength, too. Eric
Gerets had recovered from the injury that had forced him to quit during the match against Ireland. Thijs still opted for 3 men in attack rather
than putting an extra man in midfield. With Gerets and Thissen he had 2 full backs capable of picking up the extra man coming from Brazil's
midfield line.
Belgium played pretty tight together and Brazil had problems finding their rythm in the beginning of the match. Until they reached midfield
Brazil could build up without being disturbed, but once they crossed the midfield line they got stuck into the Belgian web spun by Van Moer
and the impressive Vandereycken. And when necessary, Belgium didn't hesitate to commit a foul or two. It got Eric Gerets a quick yellow card
when he let Toninho Cerezo, at full speed, stumble. When an opportunity arose, Belgium countered quickly, mostly through Braine. Taffarel
had already made a fine save from a Ceulemans attempt when Belgium, against the run of play, took the lead after 17 minutes. Once more Brazil
proved that producing goals was the only thing they really worried about, defending was apparently of less importance. Ceulemans crossed
midfield and neatly flicked the ball to Jef Mermans. Pereira and Ricardo Gomes looked at each other but before they decided to do something
about it, the ball was behind Taffarel in the net: 0-1.
How would Brazil cope with this setback? It wasn't just a goal against them, it really meant they faced elimination from the All Time World
Cup. And that was a situation completely new. They had been behind before, against Northern Ireland, but Brazil had already qualified then
and Belgium defensively where no Northern Ireland. Brazil immediately woke up and increased the pressure. Belgium's midfield was torn apart
and most of all Didi now had more space trying to reach Pelé and Ronaldo. At first Piot could prevent troubles by keeping out a shot from
Didi and saving solidly from a Ricardo Gomes header. But after 24 minutes even the great Belgian goalie had to bow his head. The ball dazzled
between Pelé and Dunga and from the captain to Ronaldo. The centre forward went past Swartenbroeks and beat Piot with a dry shot. Score
all even, Brazil at drift.
Now the most difficult period for Belgium had come. Brazil knew that it was the time to bring them on their knees. Garrincha outplayed
Thissen, Ronaldo missed the cross only just. Shortly after, a new chance for Ronaldo but Thissen fouled him from behind. He knew it would
get him a yellow card but everything better than a second Brazilian goal. Didi shot the free kick in the wall, his second attempt went over the
bar. In the 35th minute still the lead for Brazil. First Piot had tipped a shot from Pelé over the bar for a corner. Garrincha centered,
Pelé lengthened and Ricardo Gomes headed it over the line: 2-1.
At half-time the score was still 2-1 and Belgium couldn't be unhappy. Luiz Pereira had headed a new possibility straight into the hands of a
well positioned Piot and Garrincha, better than earlier in the competition, might have done better with the shooting chance he had seconds
from time. After the break Belgium tried to leave their defensive positions behind. They were still ready to battle and nothing looked like they
were giving up. Using the long ball now more than in the first half they tried to reach targetman Mermans, who saw Braine and Ceulemans
playing more in his neighbourhood now to pick up the loose ball. It did not lead to real chances though Taffarel had to make a save from a
long shot by Braine, always good for a surprise. The Brazilian goalie however had been flawless in three World Cups and confirmed his status
today.
After 58 minutes Brazil took more distance and it was Pelé himself who was responsible for it. Garrincha again went past Thissen and his
cross was intercepted insufficiently by Swartenbroeks. Pelé picked up the ball and scored with a high shot, unstoppable for Piot. Zagalo now
substituted Garrincha who left under applause. Jairzinho, the ultraquick man, came in. Belgium now had to accept more risks. Of course they
knew that Brazil would be dangerous with Jairzinho and Ronaldo in the team but they had no choice. Lucky enough for them Brazil lacked the
precision from midfield to play the through ball and reach their forwards. Vandereycken always kept pressure on his opponents and even
succeeded in providing his teammates with accurates passes.
Those who had thought that Belgium would be down and out however, were denied. And it didn't come as a surprise that Ceulemans scored the
goal of hope. He rose above the Brazilian defence after a long throw in from Gerets and the header fell over Taffarel in the far corner. The
tension was now back completely and the match reached its climax. Romario replaced Ronaldo and for Belgium the tired Van Moer left his
place to the more creative Scifo. Brazil looked all at sea at moments and Belgium were close to equalizing. Braine got the ideal chance but
missed from close range, Taffarel was at his post when Ceulemans tried again and the Estadio Bernabeu nearly exploded when Nilton Santos
saved on the line from a Mermans header. Belgium threw everything forward with Van Himst replacing Coppens and in the dying minutes with
big man Bernard Voorhoof in Thissen's place.
But it wasn't to be for the Red Devils. During the last 5 minutes everything went the wrong way. First there was a red card for Vandereycken
who tripped Jairzinho, on his way to Piot, from behind. That was knock number one, the second closed the door completely. Toninho Cerezo
passed the ball into the box to Romario, who had no problems turning away from Verbiest before beating Piot for the 4th time. That was the
decision, of course. Brazil had shown what they could do from time to time, had scored 4 goals against a very strong Belgian side, but it could
have gone either way. Belgium had done very well, had fought like lions. Pure skills had decided the match. Belgium crashed out of the All
Time World Cup today, but for Brazil a new clash was coming up: Uruguay in the quarter finals. A rematch from classics like the "final" of the
World Cup 1950 and the semi final of 1970.
Brazil face Uruguay on Friday in the first of 4 classic quarter finals. Seriously weakened by the absence of, especially, Varela and also left back Mujica,
Uruguay seek for a new sensation like they produced in 1950. The team had convinced by beating Spain without too many troubles. Their scoring
ability seems to have improved during the last matches. It will be very interesting to see the defensively very strong Uruguayans face
Brazil, the team that scores more than 4 goals per game in average so far. Zagalo hopes to have Cafu back but is not expected to make further
chances. Juan Lopez, Uruguayan coach, must reshuffle his defence and midfield but has plenty to choose. William Ling will referee this match
to be played in the Olympia Stadion in München.
|
Menu
| Introduction | Squads | Matchstats | Statistics |
|
