Ronaldinho explains World Cup goal that left England goalkeeper David Seaman in tears

England’s World Cup exits and the men blamed for them are etched deep into the psyche of our national game.

West Germany, Peter Bonetti and Gerd Muller 1970; Argentina and Diego Maradona 1986; West Germany and Chris Waddle 1990; Argentina and David Beckham 1998. And then came Brazil, Ronaldinho and David Seaman on June 21 2002.

Manager Sven Goran Eriksson and England’s Golden Generation had already exorcised one ghost of their past when Beckham’s penalty beat Argentina in the group stage. In the first knockout round they had eased through against Denmark, winning 3–0 with all the goals coming in the first half.

That set up the quarter final clash with Brazil, including their star studded front line of Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and the original Ronaldo. However, it was England who took the initiative, Michael Owen clinically taking his chance when England hit Brazil on the break.

Then, with England trying to see the first half out in stifling heat Beckham and Paul Scholes both missed tackles, Ronaldinho ran at the defence before passing to Rivaldo who buried the equaliser.

Five minutes into the second half came the fateful moment that will forever link Ronaldinho and Seaman. When Scholes conceded a free kick 42 yards from goal with a foul on Kleberson everyone, including Seaman, expected Ronaldinho to swing in his cross from the right.

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Instead, it arched into the box, Seaman’s feet looked like they were set in concrete as he tried to back pedal, and he barely jumped as the ball dipped over his head and into the net. The question is, did Ronaldinho mean it?

He says: “No, it wasn’t on purpose. But we studied a lot and we knew that Seaman advanced a bit off his