Goldenballs versus golden shot

13 April 2012

Of all the individual battles that will light up England's quarter-final with Brazil, the one between David Beckham and Roberto Carlos is surely the most compelling.

Both are renowned for their freekicks and with Goldenballs playing the right-midfield role for England and the Samba star on the left for Brazil, they will come face to face on the wings in Shizuoka on Friday.

"This match will define the whole tournament," said the Brazilian. "Whoever wins it will win the World Cup."

Sven-Goran Eriksson sees the two players as one of a kind, separated only by their choice of favoured foot. The England coach said: "If you are sitting on the bench and you have Beckham in your team, you are suddenly more confident.

"He is the best in the world at freekicks and corners, but there is another who is not so bad with his left peg. It helps if you have special players like Roberto Carlos and Beckham."

His surging runs down the left provide the pace and power for many of Brazil's attacks, but this strength is also a source of weakness.

This desire to get forward often leaves gaps at the back which Beckham, with his tireless work-rate and pin-point crossing, is primed to exploit.

The irony of the Manchester United midfielder being a more proficient defender than the Real Madrid wing-back, could be a real source of joy for England.

The pair came to international prominence during Le Tournoi in France in 1997.

Glenn Hoddle's England side lifted the trophy, but it was Roberto Carlos'sastonishing free-kick against France that was the defining image of the tournament. The amount of swerve on the ball was unprecedented, and the Brazilian is still unable to explain how he achieved it.

"It was my best goal," the 29-year-old admitted. "I don't know how I did it. I hit the ball with great power and the bend on the ball was superb. I remember I hit the ball with the outside of my left foot. It bent past Marcel Desailly and went far away from the goal. I still don't know how it went in. I hope I'll do it again. It was incredible. The next day I had a horrible time in training because the whole Brazilian team were taking the mickey. They all tried to do it, but failed of course."

This most golden of goals catapulted him to global stardom but he had to wait five years before he scored his second free-kick for Brazil, against China in the first round two weeks ago.

Beckham, who missed playing against his rival in Le Tournoi because of suspension, has had more success with dead-ball situations at international level.

Four of the England captain's seven international goals have come from free-kicks - including the one against Greece that sealed England's place in these finals.

The Brazilian now holds Beckham in high esteem and said: "He is one of the five best players in the world and in his position he's the No1."

However, he hasn't always been so complimentary about the England skipper. After Manchester United were knocked out by Real Madrid in the Champions League two years ago he said: "Beckham is not a player with speed or real ability and you have to face him in one-on-one situations on few occasions.

"For that reason I was able to get forward at opportune moments and against Beckham and Gary Neville I had it easy."

Beckham may make his life far more uncomfortable on Friday.

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