Rivaldo gets away from Vanderhaeghe (Allsport).

By Mark Bradley, PA Chief Soccer Writer, Kobe

If you want to be the best, you invariably have to beat the best. And there will be no easy route to the World Cup semi-finals for England as Brazil now bar their way.

Then again, while there was much individual skill for Sven-Goran Eriksson and his players to admire as the South Americans edged past Belgium in Kobe, there was also little cause for alarm.

This Brazilian side may have world-class individual talent in their 'three Rs' - Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho - but they are not necessarily a world-class team.

For the antithesis to that attacking flair is their defensive susceptibility.

For every deft touch by Rivaldo and burst of pace by Ronaldo, who is now the competition's joint leading goalscorer after his fifth goal, there is also an avenue for David Beckham to exploit or a hole for Michael Owen to burst into.

It is certainly a quarter-final to savour, reviving memories of 1970 and all that, but this time around, England have a genuine chance of actually winning, if only they can reach their own peak.

That much was clear as the South American side laboured to impose themselves on a determined Belgium side in the first half in Kobe.

For all their class on the ball and raking long passes, they struggled to make headway against the imposing central defensive pair of Timmy Simons and Daniel van Buyten.

After Belgium had threatened first, with Mbo Mpenza's audacious chip tipped over the bar, the lively Juniho, as well as Roberto Carlos and Ronaldo, also came close.

Belgium nevertheless proved they were not prepared to wilt in the face of the considerable Brazilian pressure. It was a lesson that England would do well to follow.

For if Brazil's inspired attacking trio can be contained, then they tend to be the footballing equivalent of a muscly eunuch.

With 35 minutes gone, Belgium's inspirational captain Marc Wilmots, who proved the value of dropping off into space, should have ripped up the supposed script and put his side ahead.

That he did not was solely down to the intervention of Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast, who imagined a push on defender Roque Junior by Wilmots as he jumped for the ball.

Brazil's response was immediate, although not conclusive, relying mainly on individual flashes of brilliance rather than a sustained assault.

Ronaldo threatened twice, while Ronaldinho's effort was blocked after a burst in the penalty area and Roberto Carlos flashed a cross-shot across the face of goal.

Belgium actually improved after the break, however, taking the game to Brazil with Marcos twice having to deny Wilmots as well as Mpenza.

What they lacked though was a finishing touch of true class. And that is exactly what Brazil do have.

Rivaldo had rather faded from the game in a deeper role following the arrival of Denilson for Juninho, but it only served to lull Belgium into a false sense of security.

Having controlled Ronaldinho's cross on his chest with his back to goal, he showed a deft touch to bring the ball around with his left foot before volleying it past Geert de Flieger courtesy of a crucial deflection.

Belgium responded with vigour but, as they pushed forward desperately in search of an equaliser, they were stung by a classic Brazilian counter-attack.

Ronaldo's legs were pumping at full velocity as he burst clear through the centre and there was only likely to be one outcome as he slipped his shot underneath the body of de Flieger.

The England party had left by that stage to avoid the crowds who greeted David Beckham's arrival as if he was the real star of the show.

The key in Shizuoka will be for them to show enough respect but not too much.

After all, just like themselves, Brazil were rescued from a dire qualifying position and have since rebuilt their strategy.

England must contain marauding full-backs Cafu and Roberto Carlos, as well as dealing with the wily Juninho to cut off the supply lines to Brazil's world-class attacking trio.

Their own clear avenue to potential victory, however, lies straight through a central defensive duo of Lucio and Roque Junior, who are all too often left exposed by their over-adventurous team-mates.

It all makes Brazil the best show in town, but not necessarily the best team.

They have the technique and class to overcome England but not necessarily the consistency and organisation.

It is, in truth, an evenly-balanced match between two nations with similarly great traditions but widely contrasting styles.

This will be the true test of just how far England have come under Eriksson. It is, however, also the examination of how far Brazil have really come under Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Teams

Brazil: Marcos, Cafu, Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Carlos, Gilberto, Juninho Paulista (Denilson 57), Rivaldo (Ricardinho 90), Ronaldinho (Kleberson 81), Ronaldo.

Subs Not Used: Belleti, Ceni, Dida, Edilson, Junior, Kaka, Luizao, Polga, Vampeta.

Booked: Carlos.

Goals: Rivaldo 67, Ronaldo 88.

Belgium: de Vlieger, Van Kerckhoven, Van Buyten, Peeters (Sonck 73), Simons, Wilmots, Goor, Verheyen, Vanderhaeghe, Walem, Mpenza.

Subs Not Used: Boffin, De Boeck, Deflandre, Englebert, Herpoel, Strupar, Thijs, Van Der Heyden, Van Meir, Vandendriessche, Vermant.

Booked: Vanderhaeghe.

Att: 40,440

Ref: Peter Prendergast (Jamaica).