Seaman is downcast at the final whistle.

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Shizuoka

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In the end England's World Cup dream was extinguished not by the heat or the humidity of this steamy land. Nor by the elaborate talents of Brazil.

Instead the hopes of David Beckham and Co faltered on nothing more quixotic than a sudden shift of wind - a shimmer in the afternoon sun which carried a seemingly harmless free-kick over the head of goalkeeper David Seaman and into the net.

Perhaps a younger man than 38-year-old Seaman would have saved it. Certainly the Arsenal goalkeeper will forever believe that he should have tipped Ronaldinho's 30-yard free-kick from an acute angle over the bar.

Perhaps David Beckham will look back also on the tackle he might have made late in the first-half but pulled out of only to see Brazil race away to score.

But it would be wrong to send England from these shores with recrimination ringing in their ears, even after a dismally disappointing second-half to their 2-1 defeat against Brazil.

Because Sven-Goran Eriksson's men have graced this tournament equally as much as the samba boys from Brazil. They have shown they possess strength and vitality, youth and vigour and no little tactical nous.

They could do with a shade more creativity when they compete against the very best but when we remember the depressing starting point of Eriksson's reign 21 months ago, to reach a World Cup quarter-final has been sound achievement.

True, that might not cheer up the thousands of England fans, many of them Japanese, who came to the Escopa stadium with great hope and left with only a story of what-might-have-been. Or the millions at home.

But when they look back on this campaign over the next couple of months there will be so much to remember and lots to look forward to with a European Championship around the corner.

That is for the future. The present simply showed them lacking the ability to take the game to the opposition, to surge in great waves of attack when they went behind. But then we knew attacking and guile were not England's long suit.

From the moment the monsoon clouds, which had turned this region into a chilly November afternoon yesterday, had dissipated to reveal a cloudless blue sky it was clear that it was going to be an afternoon of hard labour for England.

Argentina had been dismissed with huge industry and passion, hustle and bustle as seen week in and week out in the Premiership negating the creativity of more skilful Latin masters.

With the mercury nudging 90 degrees and humidity close to 50 per cent this was a day for football made in Brazil.

There was never going to be a secret about this match. It was always a contest between Brazilian individuality and English team work. A duel between Brazil's magical three, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, and an English defence which had conceded just one goal in the tournament and had unearthed perhaps the defender of this World Cup in Rio Ferdinand.

It was just that, at first cagey and cautious, Brazil probing for gaps, England shutting them as soon as they opened. One shimmy and snap-shot from Ronaldo and one blast from Rivaldo and a good deal of latent menace but nothing England couldn't handle.

And then England struck, Michael Owen emerging on the blind side of Brazil defender Lucio like a spitfire swooping out of the sun.

It was set up by good work from Scholes and Mills, Heskey eventually playing the final ball through and, in truth, it was a big mistake by Lucio, the Leverkusen defender who was such a force in last season's Champions League.

His first touch was dreadful, more of a perfect lay-off than an a defensive parry. Once clear, Owen needs little invitation. He took the ball forward with great aplomb before chipping it over Brazil goalkeeper Marcos, who went to ground far too soon, for the opening goal after 23 minutes.

England were calm, composed. Until, that is, David Seaman hurt his back when falling over Campbell after claiming a high cross. Still, they should have gone in at half-time with the lead and would have done if it wasn't for Beckham jumping out of a sandwich tackle on half-way.

He probably thought the ball was going dead. Instead, Scholes lost the ball, it was swiftly moved on to Ronaldinho who left England's defence sprawling with a mesmerising central thrust before releasing Rivaldo in the penalty area who glided the ball past Seaman.

All square at half-time but the English dressing room would have been somewhat muted after a half in which they had repelled Brazil's magic only to be caught by one rapier thrust.

The atmosphere was to become even worse after 50 minutes when Ronaldinho took a free-kick out on the right and looked to have overhit it wildly. It caught on the breeze and to the horror of the 7,000 England fans floated over the agonised stretch of Seaman before rippling the net.

This wasn't in the script. Neither was the red card handed out to Ronaldinho for a clash with Danny Mills which the referee deemed to be a stamp but in truth did not look nearly so reckless on video playback.

So 11 against 10 for 30 minutes. Surely England could salvage their World Cup hopes. But they are just not used to chasing the game, not able to produce guile and wondrous ability from anywhere.

The ubiquitous Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes were true captains of industry in midfield, the understanding they have forged in so many years at Old Trafford keeping England's shape composed and compact in the face of mounting tension.

Emile Heskey up front was a willing target man, taking the pressure on his broad shoulders and giving Cafu down the right a torrid time.

But in truth England's World Cup hopes simply fizzled out on the back of their own shortcomings. Brazil, 10 men at that, go on to the semi-final against Senegal or Turkey.

And England are left with nothing but memories.

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