A STAR man performance from Juninho and an England win - that's former Middlesbrough skipper Nigel Pearson's fervent hope as Sven-Goran Eriksson's men prepare to face Brazil on Friday.

Pearson, now an up-and-coming FA coach, was Boro's defensive cornerstone during Juninho's first stint at the Riverside Stadium.

The Samba sensation was memorably reduced to tears on the final day of the 1996-97 season when Boro were relegated at Leeds.

Juninho's late equaliser in a 1-1 draw wasn't enough to preserve the Premiership status of Bryan Robson's side.

The loss of a top-flight stage and consequent threat to his prospects of playing for Brazil at the 1998 World Cup in France, fired Juninho's determination to quit Boro and join Spanish giants Atletico Madrid for £12m in July '97.

But he was in tears again little more than six months later when a broken ankle shattered his dreams of featuring in football's greatest competition.

Now England, the country where he would love to ply his trade again, stand in the way of the possible realisation of Juninho's ultimate ambition - winning the World Cup.

But Pearson admits that, for the sake of the nation, he would settle for a few more tears from his old teammate this weekend.

"I'm desperate for us to beat Brazil; a win for us and Juninho being top man for Brazil would be ideal,'' said Pearson.

"I would like to see him play well, but only up to a point.

"I'm delighted he's at the World Cup because he missed the last one and I felt for him.

"Of course I don't want to see him winning the World Cup, because that would mean England wouldn't. But I have to say, if England lose, then I'll be rooting for Juninho.''

Evidence of his enduring popularity among Boro fans came when they voted Juninho the finest player in the club's history.

With father Osvaldo Giroldo Snr fronting his entourage, Juninho charmed Teesside and returned three years ago for an eight-month loan spell which almost led to another permanent union.

Pearson stressed: "He's one of the nicest people I've met in football and I have an awful lot of respect for him and his family.

"I remember the day at Elland Road when we didn't get the result we needed and went down. Juninho was in tears at the end of the match and that said everything about him.

"Obviously, if he's crying on Friday, my emotions will be a bit different. I will still feel for him, but I want an England win.''

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