England’s curious lack of belief against the game’s most famous nation

An example of that England v Brazil feeling. Oh, David! Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

JOG ON, BONITO

The year is 2002. It’s only 9am but you’ve already sunk two pints of industrial-strength lager. In his BBC commentary, John Motson has mentioned cornflakes at least three times. Ronaldinho is standing over a free-kick, with England and Brazil locked at 1-1 in their World Cup quarter-final, soon after Rivaldo’s clinical equaliser. This will be no trouble for the commanding figure of David Seaman in goal, right? Wrong. The seemingly innocuous ball arcs up from Ronaldinho’s boot, over the head of the statuesque Seaman, and nestles in the far corner of the net. Cafu, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho prance with delight by the corner flag. The history of England’s attempts to beat Brazil at football is thus summed up in a few bizarre seconds.