BRAZIL invented football as a beautiful game and Rivaldo does more than any other current Brazilian in upholding that tradition.

That is until yesterday when he let down the great yellow shirt with a display of cheating which should have seen him get the red card.

To clutch his face and go down like a roll of lino after being struck on the thigh with the ball was both disgraceful and embarrassing to see. His act of gamesmanship ensured the Turk who kicked the ball at him in a show of petulence received the red card and it worked. Rivaldo may be proud of himself but it takes the gloss off possible the greatest soccer talent in the world today which is sad.

It doesn't alter the fact that Brazil were stunning and made a total mockery of their terrible performances leading up to the World Cup Finals. On this show they are every inch the gloriously entertaining, skilful and effective Brazil we have become accustomed to. And like them, Italy also started like a house on fire yesterday. If England thought they had problems winning the World Cup after Sunday, it looked like mission impossible watching these two sides.

I still expect England to get through the group with a draw on Friday and a win next Wednesday but we have got to shift Emile Heskey from the left to either the middle or the bench.

Heskey has been unfairly picked out by the nation as the scapegoat but it is not his fault he has been as to play a role he is not equipped to undertake.