Brazilian hero forecasts England glory (Allsport).

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Kobe

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When Eduardo Goncalves says England can win the World Cup because they have a coach in Sven-Goran Eriksson who knows how to combat individual brilliance it is worth taking note.

Goncalves is better known as Tostao, the exceptional playmaker at the heart of the greatest football team of all-time.

It was Tostao's weaving dribble and cross which set up Pele for the exquisite lay-off which allowed Jairzinho to score the solitary goal against England in 1970 in Mexico - the last time the two nations met in a competitive international.

Brazil went on to win the World Cup that year with a team, also including Gerson, Rivelino and captain Carlos Alberto, which has since drawn universal acclaim as the force which epitomised everything inherent in the phrase the 'beautiful game'.

On Friday when the two teams meet again in Shizuoka, this time in a World Cup quarter-final, Tostao admits he is worried.

Not because Brazil do not possess magical talent, but because in Eriksson England have the shrewdest and most meticulous coach in the tournament.

"England have a stronger defence than Brazil," says Tostao, who remains tall and upright though he is nudging 60, but whose famous tuft of hair has given way to a completely bald pate with thin wispish grey strands falling to his shoulders.

He is following his beloved team in Japan, working for Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

"England work better and have a coach who is very intelligent. Eriksson knows how to play against a team full of talented players like Brazil as he showed against Argentina when he played with two lines of four players, all working hard for the team.

"I think he will do the same against Brazil. On the counter-attack breaking at high-speed with Owen, I think England can win the game.

"Whoever wins will probably go on to win the tournament as happened in 1970.

The difference in 1970 was we met in the first stage. It was a very important game for us as we gained a lot of confidence from beating England. That gave us the belief to go on and win the trophy."

The Brazilian team of 1970, however, was blessed with strength and balance as well as phenomenal attacking firepower. While Felipe Scolari's team have won their four games so far, there is a fragility to Brazil which was exposed in the fortunate 2-0 victory over Belgium in the second round.

Despite goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo the Brazilain Press were critical of that triumph, though Tostao was more understanding.

"The match with Belgium was Brazil's best performance of the competition because Belgium were their best opponents so far," he reasons. "They've shown they can also win the title as no team has forwards like Brazil. If Rivaldo and the two Ronaldos (Ronaldo and 18-year-old Ronaldinho) had been on the other side it would probably have finished 2-0 to Belgium.

"Brazil have more individual talent in their side than England, a great number of brilliant players. No team in the world has two or three players like Brazil have in attack.

"England as a group are better organised and better balanced. They're a team who play football that is simple but effective as they showed against Argentina.

I don't know which will be decisive on the day, perhaps the individual strengths of Brazil, who knows?

"England's main player is Beckham for his set-pieces, his crossing and passing and also what he does for the team. He's a player who gets forward and also defends very well.

"In attack there is Owen's speed. These are England's two key players while Brazil have three - the two Ronaldos and Rivaldo."

Tostao believes nostalgia has seen the 1970 match-up grow in stature with the passing of time. He does not consider it was one of the World Cup's greatest games despite the tackle by Bobby Moore on Jairzinho, the legendary save by Gordon Banks from Pele and the historic embrace and famous picture of Pele and Moore at the end.

"I just remember England being one of the strongest teams of the day, they were world champions," says Tostao. "I think this match has the same significance.

They are the two sides who have looked strongest in the tournament so far.

"People nowadays talk about that 1970 match as a classic but I think if they sat down and watched it they could be surprised. There were few chances and not a lot of incidents. Both teams were nervous but tactically it was excellent.

"England were a great team. The most famous players in Brazil were Gordon Banks and Bobby Moore and those names are still as famous in Brazil now."

Come Friday, with a little help from the sharp brain of a Swedish coach, that mantle might well have been passed on to Beckham and Owen.