THIS is why Rio and the boys are going to beat the boys from Rio on Friday.

Patriotism apart, England will prove they are better than Brazil in every department apart from looking good.

Belgium proved that this Brazilian side is there for the taking despite being beautiful to watch.

The gold shirts were second best for much of the match and they had two healthy slices of luck, firstly to see a perfectly good Marc Wilmots goal disallowed and then to get a wicked deflection for the first goal.

You underestimate Brazil at your peril but there is plenty of evidence to suggest England have nothing to fear in the battle for a semi-final place.

Belgium proved that European organisation can knock Brazil off their stride - and they are not the same side when they are not given time and space to play - and Costa Rica proved they have got big problems in defence if the opposition can put quality balls into the box.

England can go into their most glamorous and possibly biggest game since the countries last met in a competitive game 32 years ago confident that they can avenge that 1-0 World Cup group stage defeat in Mexico.

They have not come up against such a potent attacking force as Brazil so far but in Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Danny Mills and Ashley Cole they have the defence to cope with it.

Up front Michael Owen and Emile Heskey will have the pace and power to frighten the life out of Brazil's suspect defence.

But it is in midfield where England will win this game.

The combination of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Trevor Sinclair was awesome in the two big games against Argentina and Denmark and they will be every inch as good in this game because Brazil will let them play.

My prediction? England 1 Brazil 0. But they will have tougher games in the semis and final - hopefully.