July 7th

Champions Claimed The Difference by Inch

The first Semi-Final between The Champions Brazil and Netherlands, both have proved enough favourites' vigour and each typical solidarity up to this stage, would must be virtually evaluated as the true Final. And it was really so, since the match attracted not only the big crowd of Velodrome, Marseille, but everybody watching on TV from the starting second to the very end, equally exciting and highly appreciated as Argentina vs England and Italy vs France.

The concept of the match was almost 'positive Dutch - patient Brazilian', though both defences never been yielded to the beautifully constructed attack from Netherlands, or to the swift guns of Brazilian counterblow.

The first goal came from Brazil when Rivaldo sent a neat pass to Ronaldo, who proved his deadly speed and skill enough to score just after the break. Nonetheless, the game went even at last as Dutch showed their vitality to return in the crucial minute, thanks to Ronald De Boer's fine cross and Patrick Kluivert's well-sharpend header.

Although Netherlands lost through the penalty shoot-out, after scoreless extra 30 minutes, they surely deserved to make the reverse result, proving a better cleverness and inspiration, maybe were the difference between the matter of winning spirit.

１−１

(Brazil won the penalty shoot-out by 4-2 after extra time)

Scorers

[B] Ronaldo:46min.

[N] Kluivert: 87min.

Ze Carlos

J.Baiano

Aldair

Roberto Carlos

Reiziger(Winter:56min.)

Stam

F.De Boer(Capt.)

Cocu

Leonardo(Emerson:75min.)

Dunga(Capt.)

Sampaio

Rivaldo

R.De Boer

Jonk(Seedorf:111min.)

Davids

Zenden(Van Hooijdonk:75min.)

Ronaldo

Bebeto(Denilson:70min.)

Bergkamp

Kluivert