Brazil set up a quarter final showdown with England after beating Belgium 2-0 in Kobe today.

The Samba boys were made to work hard by a resilient Belgium side, but late goals by Rivaldo and Ronaldo paved the way for an enticing clash in Shizuoka on Friday.

Brazil needed a sizeable amount of good fortune and two moments of individual class to edge past the determined challenge of the Lowlanders.

Rivaldo got the crucial opener on 66 minutes after neat control set him up to fire a thunderous shot past the Belgium keeper via a deflection.

Ronaldo rounded off the victory with just three minutes left as he took his tally in the competition to five goals after the Belgium defence was caught out pushing for an equaliser.

The Brazilian star striker is now joint top scorer with Germany's marksman Miroslav Klose.

Belgium certainly brought the best out of Brazilian keeper Marcos as they created a host of chances and showed up the defensive weaknesses which England will look to exploit in the quarter final.

Having comfortably booked their place in the last eight on Saturday, Sven-Goran Eriksson, his backroom staff and players were out in force to watch their next opponents.

Marcos was called into action in the Brazilian goal after just 36 seconds, back-pedalling frantically to tip over Mbo Mpenza's audacious chip.

Brazil soon settled to take control of the game, sending raking passes from one side of the pitch to the other as Cafu and Roberto Carlos took turns in pouring forward.

Juninho was a lively presence in midfield, clipping one drive just off target, while Roberto Carlos' curling free-kick flashed narrowly over the top and Ronaldo curled an effort only a few inches wide.

However, Belgium proved they were not prepared to wilt in the face of the considerable Brazilian pressure and with 35 minutes gone, Wilmots should have ripped up the supposed script and put them ahead.

That he did not was solely down to the intervention of Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast, who penalised the Belgian captain for a push on defender Roque Junior as the pair jumped for the ball.

Brazil's response was immediate, but relyied mainly on individual flashes of brilliance rather than a sustained assault.

Ronaldo threatened twice, while Ronaldinho's effort was blocked after a burst in the penalty area and Roberto Carlos flashed a cross-shot across the face of goal.

After the interval Belgium were first again to threaten with the inspirational Wilmots only denied by the diving figure of Marcos.

The Brazilian keeper needed to be smartly off his line to save at the feet of Mpenza shortly afterwards and he was yet again called upon to palm away Wilmots' next effort at full stretch.

The breakthrough, however, was provided by Rivaldo.

Having controlled Ronaldinho's cross on his chest with his back to goal, he showed a deft touch to bring the ball around with his left foot before volleying it past Geert de Vlieger courtesy of a crucial deflection.

But Belgium refused to accept their fate.

Bart Goor just failed to connect with a header as the goal beckoned invitingly, while substitute Wesley Sonck also tried his luck from distance.

With Brazil desperately holding on to their slim advantage, Belgium over-committed themselves forward in search of an equaliser and were duly punished by a clinical finish from Ronaldo put clean through on the exposed figure of de Vlieger.

Goor should have pulled a goal back for Belgium moments later but he fired into the side-netting with only the keeper to beat.

England will need to show more class with their finishing on Friday if they are to steer a course into the semi final.