Beckham celebrates against Argentina. (Allsport)

By Mark Bradley, PA Sport Chief Soccer Writer, Yokohama

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The lessons for Sven-Goran Eriksson are clear.

For all the teamwork, graft and mental strength that took Germany to the 2002 World Cup final, there was simply no substitute for pure, instinctive Brazilian class.

That Brazil performed as a collective unit was undeniable.

Indeed, as not only Germany, but also Korea, Japan and many others proved at this tournament, that is now a given in international football.

After all, for all the individual talent in France, Argentina and Portugal, three of the main pre-tournament favourites flickered only briefly into life before being snuffed out even before the knock-out stages.

Instead, predictable but hard-working and organised sides like Paraguay and the United States progressed while the co-hosts were carried along on a colourful wave of national passion.

That Germany, a similarly average side performing above all reasonable expectations, should reach the final was in some ways the ultimate criticism of the 2002 tournament.

Great shocks and certainly some great moments, especially where Korea and Senegal were involved, but hardly great football.

So it was, however, until Brazil effectively saved the tournament from itself.

They were quite simply the only side with individual shafts of brilliance to light up their enterprising teamwork.

In not only Ronaldo, but also Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, they had - apart from Oliver Kahn before his fateful error in the final and El Hadji Diouf - the undeniable stars of the tournament.

And while it is true that England wasted a golden chance to succeed at this World Cup, it is also evident that the best team eventually prevailed.

What England lacked was not only the technical merits of Brazil, with their ability to caress the ball around the pitch, but also the end produce of their world-class talents.

David Beckham was never fully match-fit to make his true impact on the tournament but, then again, neither was Ronaldo in the latter stages and he still sparkled when it mattered most.

Michael Owen never quite hit top form either, apart from scoring twice, while Steven Gerrard was out injured.

So without the crown jewels, not even the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Nicky Butt and Danny Mills surpassing all expectations could properly compensate.

Progress was still made though. After all, Eriksson has the basis of a successful side with a settled line-up starting to develop and an average age among the outfield players of just 24.

There is considerable room for improvement, with Gerrard and Gary Neville to return, let alone several younger talents such as Michael Carrick, Alan Smith and Jermain Defoe coming through the ranks.

What England missed, however, was the cutting edge that Beckham or Owen could have provided.

Against Sweden, Beckham tried to pace himself but merely succeeding in going through the motions as the game largely passed him by. It was a prophetic sight.

Despite seizing the lead through Sol Campbell's header, they faded in the second-half as Sweden outplayed, out-thought and outpassed them.

In the face of adversity, this England team panicked and did just as many others have done before by reverting to outmoded type in pumping hopeful long balls forward.

A point was still no disgrace, however, and so it was onto the supposedly ultimate test against Argentina.

That the highlight of England's World Cup should, for once, prove to be a penalty was perhaps the ultimate irony.

But when Beckham stepped up to take the decisive spot-kick, the world stood still for a moment for those inside Sapporo's Dome as the potential repercussions of him missing suddenly became horribly clear.

Beckham was nevertheless up to the mental challenge as he proved his inner strength since his self-confessed 'nightmare' in St Etienne. Only Ronaldo would later eclipse that public redemption in the final.

Back in Sapporo, England held on amid a spirited, almost inspired, display to win 1-0 and expectations suddenly abounded.

Owen Hargreaves may have gone off injured, yet Butt and Trevor Sinclair had risen admirably to the challenge, while the defence - in which Ferdinand was the starring light - were commanding.

A point was therefore required against Nigeria and despite a relatively boring goalless draw, it was still mission accomplished as Argentina were eliminated while England and Sweden went through.

The second round brought probably England's best 45 minutes of the competition as they swept into a 3-0 lead against Denmark which was never surrendered. They were heady times.

Eriksson's side were indebted to errors, most notably Thomas Sorensen's early own goal which was credited to Ferdinand.

However, they looked an organised team with a cutting edge up front as Owen and Emile Heskey both scored.

Hope sprung eternal and we all started to dream. It lasted less than a week and the wake-up call was provided by Brazil.

Whatever weaknesses England still had, such as a lack of creative imagination, were decisively exposed by the South Americans' incisive movement and passing ability in Shizuoka.

Despite Owen memorably seizing the lead, Ronaldinho glided through the centre of the defence to set up Rivaldo to equalise and then David Seaman was caught napping for the young striker's freak free-kick winner.

The veteran keeper was in tears, but this was an England team that did not even threaten to score against 10 men for the final 32 minutes.

The inevitable had happened, just as it always tends to do. But at least by that stage, there had been times when England had appeared to come of as age as a team.

Whether Eriksson can now capitalise on that progress will be crucial. After all, England's Euro 2004 qualifying group now includes a certain World Cup semi-finalist in Turkey.

The England coach can only hope that, just like Ronaldo in 2002, his stars are up to the challenge next time around.