Seaman is helpless for Ronaldinho's goal (Allsport)
SEAMAN REMINDED OF NAYIM BLUNDER
By David Prior, PA Sport
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Brazil's winning goal brought back terrible memories for one man in particular
- David Seaman.
After a near-faultless World Cup, England's goalkeeper was caught off his line
by Ronaldinho's unexpected free-kick in a moment disastrously familiar for the
38-year-old.
Seven years ago, in the very last minute of Arsenal's European Cup Winners'
Cup final against Real Zaragoza, Seaman was left hopelessly flapping at a
50-yard lob from Spanish midfielder Nayim.
As he lay entangled in the net - in similar scenes to today at Shizuoka - the
veteran could reflect once again how closely glory sits to disaster.
For Seaman, that night in 1995 has lived with him ever since.
He said: "I always know that I am one mistake away from trouble. As a
goalkeeper you can be a hero for 89 minutes and then all of a sudden 'bang',
you've made an error and the game's over.
"I should know. It happened to me in the Parc des Princes when Nayim scored
from such a long way out. I had actually had a great game and had made plenty of
saves and then that happened. Nightmare.
"Of course, that's what people remember and I suppose it's what I remember.
The last kick of the match. I must admit, that reminded me of the pitfalls of
the profession.
"I even had a funny feeling when I went back to that ground with England.
It's hard to forget. Something like that may never happen again but it's a
reminder of what can go wrong."
Seaman had another reminder in the heat of Japan today - and England are on
their way home.
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