FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°58
Midfielder Rivaldo scored a pair of superb goals, one in each half, as World Cup holders Brazil stormed into the semi-finals with a thrilling 3-2 win over plucky Denmark at the La Beaujoire Stadium on Friday night.
Martin Jorgensen shot Denmark ahead after just 90 seconds but ace Brazilian striker Ronaldo then turned provider by setting up strikes for Bebeto and Rivaldo before half-time. Brian Laudrup equalised for the Danes after the break before Rivaldo sealed the victory with a superb shot from 25 metres out after 60 minutes. The Brazilians were brilliant as they secured a meeting in the semi-finals with the winner of Saturday’s Holland v Argentina game in Marseille on Tuesday night. They joined hosts France, who beat Italy 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw earlier on Friday, in qualifying for the final four.
Brazil coach Mario Zagallo had said the day before the match that his side were capable of playing ” fantasy football “ and his players lived up to his expectations, if only in short bursts. ” It was a hard game for us because Denmark put up a real fight tonight, “ said Zagallo. ” It was a victory by a team that wanted to win against very fierce opposition. It was a match that showed the way football should be played. Denmark could just as easily have won 3-2 but we gave everything to win. I’m almost as tired as the players, “ he added. The Brazilian players were ecstatic after being pushed hard by the feisty Danes. ” We played with real spirit tonight and it would have been unfair if we had not qualified, “ said defender Cafu. The defending champions, seeking a record fifth World Cup title to add to those they won in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, sometimes played with a swagger reminiscent of great Brazilian sides of the past.
” It was a great game and Brazil are super world-class players, as we knew, “ said Danish coach Bo Johansson. ” I’m not satisfied because we didn’t win, but we did try to attack as much as possible. We’ve had a fantastic adventure in this tournament.” The Danes opened the scoring when they caught the Brazilians napping with a piece of quick thinking. Dunga conceded a free-kick for a foul on striker Peter Moller and Danish skipper Michael Laudrup took the kick right away, with the Brazilians still in disarray. He freed his brother Brian down the who promptly squared the ball back across the penalty area for Jorgensen to sweep it past the helpless Taffarel. It was disappointing start for the goalkeeper, making a record 16th appearance in a World Cup finals match, but his misery was short-lived and he was only occasionally troubled again-apart from picking Laudrup’s equaliser out of the back of the net.
It took Brazil less than 10 minutes to get back on level terms. Dunga found Ronaldo in midfield and the striker conjured up a superb through ball that split the Danish defence wide open. Bebeto ran onto the pass, controlled the ball with one with one touch and then drove it low and hard past the outstretched Peter Schmeichel from just outside the area. Ronaldo was again the creator when the Brazilians took the lead after 26 minutes. His angled pass to free Rivaldo inside the box was precision-perfect and the midfielder took the chance with relish, chipping the ball cleverly over the advancing Schmeichel at the near post.
Taffarel had to stop a smart shot from Moller, who wasted a good chance when he trod on the ball, but clearcut chances were few and far between for the Danes despite some quick and clever build-up work. Substitute Stig Tofting hammered a shot high and wide four minutes after the interval and then the Danes grabbed an unlikely equalizer. Roberto Carlos tried to clear a deflected ball inside the area with a reckless and unnecessary bicycle kick. He missed the ball completely and Brian Laudrup, lurking behind him, hammered the ball first time into the roof of the net.
Rivaldo’s decisive goal on 60 minutes was all class. Dunga was the provider and the 26-year-old Barcelona player hammered the ball into the net with a blistering low left-foot shot. The Danes replaced Moller with Ebbe Sand on 67 minutes and the striker was clearly annoyed, gesticulating wildly as he made his way to the bench.
Brazil cruised through the final 20 minutes-apart from allowing defender Marc Reiper to place a late header onto the crossbar and over to safety-but will regret a yellow card earned by wing back Cafu for time wasting that will rule him out of the semi-finals. Ze Carlos will probably replace Cafu, Zagallo said.
Denmark were playing in only their second World Cup finals and had never previously made the last eight, but while the 1992 European champions are a gifted side, few teams can stay with Brazil when they are in this mood. The countries had met three times previously, with Denmark having won twice, but this time there was no way back, despite some thrusting attacks, after Rivaldo’s masterful strike, even though goalkeeper Schmeichel joined the attack in the dying minutes. The Danes, who had fought their hearts out, were clearly devastated to lose after putting up such a fight and were given a rousing ovation by their fans. The small number of Danes in the crowd could not, however, match the frantic samba beat of the thousands of jubilant Brazilians.