Seaman - another lob to remember (Allsport)

By Neal Collins

How can it end this way?

One mis-hit free-kick and the nation is in mourning.

All those hopes, dreams, shattered by a Ronaldinho free-kick which was supposed to curl across the front of David Seaman's goal.

Don't let him pretend it was a shot. Please.

And yes, I was there in the Parc Des Princes, Paris, May 1995, when Nayim's shot from the halfway line left Seaman scrambling and cost Arsenal the European Cup Winners' Cup in extra time against Real Zaragoza.

This was another of those moments.

And at 38, there will be no coming back for the pony-tailed one.

He might have bowed out as a World Cup winning hero, instead he will be remembered for getting caught out of position by a lucky, lucky Brazilian free-kick.

But then they say you deserve your luck. You earn good fortune.

Brazil kept the ball, they worked hard and even when Ronaldinho was harshly sent off for showing his studs to Danny Mills shortly after the goal, they worked hard.

England? Great in the first half.

Tight, organised and occasionally incisive.

Michael Owen, obviously not recovered from his groin problems, was gifted a goal by Lucio and England might even have been further ahead by the time Rivaldo levelled just before half-time, thanks to Ronaldinho's mazy dribble.

But it was the second half which leaves a bitter taste.

Even against 10 men, England couldn't muster a single shot or - worse - a decent cross to trouble this unimpressive Brazilian outfit.

On the bench Sven Goran Eriksson looked too cool by half.

He was slow to change things after the red card while his opposite number, big Phil Scolari, urged his Blue Brazil on to greater heights.

Roberto Carlos was magnificent, Ronaldinho is the new buck- toothed star but at the other end of the scale, Ronaldo looked out of it and Rivaldo should be banned for life for an exhibiton of "simulation" which disgraced the game.

Acting? Pure Vaudeville from the man already fined for pretending to get hit in the face in the opening game against Turkey.

All around Britain and the Shizuoka stadium fans would happily have queued for hours to help ease his agony after Sol Campbell's finger tip had brushed his cheek, causing paroxysms of pain.

Bloody idiot.

Sven said afterwards: "It was very, very disappointing. We didn't play well against ten men."

Mr Eriksson's renowned cool will begin to become irksome if he doesn't encourage the lads to bring the ball down and play.

It's hard to find plus points now, after such a gormless end to a fun ride.

The back four of Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Danny Mills have all double their value and should be together for another World Cup.

Nicky Butt has come of age, Trevor Sinclair did OK, Paul Scholes was fine until his nightmarish display at Shizuoka. Emile Heskey was never better than workmanlike

But the big stars, David Beckham and Michael Owen let us down.

Sure they had a metatarsal and a groin to complain about.

But if they were carrying injuries then perhaps Darius Vassell and Joe Cole would have grabbed the opportunity?

David Seaman will be the scapegoat for this bitter defeat.

Brazil, by no means a classic combination, may go on to win it.

We will mope about for days saying: "There may never be a better chance..."

But the truth is, a side which fails to muster a shot on target for half an hour against 10 men deserves to take the next flight home.

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