The cold, hard facts make for sober reading.

Roberto Carlos versus Danny Mills; Cafu against Trevor Sinclair.

Finalists in each of the last two World Cups meeting a side who have reached the semi-finals just twice.

But in Shizuoka tomorrow England and Brazil could be lining up under different sobriquets.

It's a match between the country that cannot lose against the country that daren't lose.

England's players were expected to be back home by now. Anything more than a second-round place, given the horrific draw that FIFA inflicted on them, is a happy bonus.

For Brazil, the equation is simple: bring the World Cup back, or else.

The pressure of replicating the feats of Pele, Garrincha and Jairzinho undermined the efforts of the Class of 1982, Zico, Socrates et al.

Eight years later, they imploded against bitter rivals Argentina in just the second round, frustrated by their lack of a goalscorer.

And the extreme pressure on Brazil to retain the World Cup in 1998 was so great that it left Ronaldo, their talisman, in a zombie-like state for a final that degenerated into farce amid team changes and dressing room bust-ups.

England carry the hopes, no more and no less, of their nation into tomorrow's game. Victory is demanded of Brazil - defeat is not an option.

And rarely can so much expectation have been placed on such fragile shoulders.

It took three coaches and 62 players to carry Brazil over the finishing line in their World Cup qualifying campaign, during which they suffered an unprecedented six defeats.

And what have Brazil done thus far in the Far East to convince the doubters that that slump is behind them? Precisely nothing, that's what.

They limped past Turkey, needing a penalty that wasn't three minutes from time to win.

China may have been swamped by the three Rs, but still opened up Brazil time and again when they had possession.

Costa Rica's attacking approach was a World Cup kamikaze mission, but they too showed where Brazil are vulnerable. It was just a shame they conceded five goals in the process.

And would the Brazilians have made it to the last eight had Belgium's Marc Wilmots' perfectly legal goal not been disallowed when the score was 0-0 on Monday?

If England's players are having sleepless nights ahead of tomorrow, it's because they are excited, not worried, by the prospect of facing Brazil.

Their opponents, on the other hand, could be lying awake thinking of the national outcry that will greet their failure to bring the World Cup back to Rio de Janeiro.

Is Ronaldo back to his best, or is he benefiting from being able to plunder some porous defences?

Can Brazil's backline of Lucio, Roque Junior and Edmilson handle Michael Owen?

And when England test goalkeeper Marcos, will he be brave enough and good enough to repel them?

There are a welter of question marks hanging over Brazil as they prepare for tomorrow's game.

England, on the other hand, approach the match with a feeling of serenity throughout the camp.

Owen is scoring again - miraculously, so is Emile Heskey - and they look compact, with Rio Ferdinand's price-tag growing with each accomplished performance.

What will count against England is the hot weather in Shizuoka tomorrow.

But when it comes to pressure, they won't be the ones feeling the heat