Brazil 3-0 Ghana

Brazil made it to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Ghana but Soccer Pundit thinks the score is a bit flattering. The match was in no way a breeze for the Brazilians as they came under heavy pressure from Ghana.

Brazil took a fifth-minute lead through Ronaldo but Ghana dominated the rest of the first half before again getting hit on the counter-attack in first-half injury-time as Adriano made it 2-0. Ze Roberto added a third late in the game.

Ghana did not score any goals but for the better part of the match, they played enterprising football and put the Brazilians on the back-foot. Their passing and movement were immaculate and the speed at which the play the game was impressive. However, they lacked the all-important factor, which is the finishing. They have enough clear-cut chances to equalize and maybe to settle the match but they just cannot find the net.

For Brazilians, it was again a day at the office as they saw off Ghana without playing brilliantly. It was a happy day for them though as several records were broken. Ronaldo's goal in this match bring his tally to 15 and overtook Gerd Muller in the all-time goalscoring list. Captain Cafu’s appearance in the game with Ghana in Dortmund was his 19th FIFA World Cup game - a Brazilian record. If Brazil go all the way, Cafu would end the tournament on 22, three behind record holder Lothar Matthaus who played in World Cup between 1982 and 1998. This victory was also Cafu’s 16th winning game in the competition – another FIFA World Cup record.

Soccer Pundit feels that the Brazilian defence are the heros in this match as they withstood the heavy bombardment from the Ghanians and allowed the team to launch counter-attacks. Midfield stars, Ronaldinho and Kaka were not at their best while defenders Lucio and Juan and goalkeeper Dida turned in exceptional performances. They have only conceded one goal so far in this tournament so their opponents will really need a well-organised attack and clinical finishes to defeat them.

France now meets Brazil and the shocking 3-0 defeat at the World Cup Finals eight years ago should still be fresh in the minds of the Brazilians as many of the players from that encounter are in this team. At that time, Ronaldo was in good form but went down with a fever at the critical stage and Brazil missed his presence in front of goal. Now, France faces a Ronaldo who received brickbats for being fat and in poor form but has gradually recovered his scoring touch.

This is going to be an interesting encounter especially since Zinedine Zidane, Brazil's nemesis, is also beginning to display the commanding presence and form which has striked fear into many world class defenders. The two icons of this decade will face off in probably their last battle as Zidane is hanging up his boots after this World Cup, so for true soccer fans, this is a match which cannot be missed...