SHIZUOKA, Japan — For a tearful David Seaman, the 2002 World Cup ended with a familiar mistake.
The winning goal in Brazil's 2-1 victory over England in the quarterfinals Friday came on a 35-yard free kick from Ronaldinho that Seaman seemed to misplay.
At the beginning of the second half, the Brazilian midfielder lobbed the ball into a breeze from the right side of the field, and Seaman mistakenly took one step forward. The curling, spinning shot came down over his head and settled into the top corner of the goal as he stumbled backward into the net.
Backup England goalie David James called it a "freak goal, a fluke."
"He's had a good tournament. He made so many vital saves in other games," James said.
But the goal also was similar to one Seaman gave up in the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup.
Playing in the final against Real Zaragoza in Paris, the Arsenal goalkeeper was caught off his line and beaten at the end of the game by a 50-yard lob by the Spanish team's midfielder Nayim. Arsenal lost 2-1.
Just like seven years ago, Seaman dived backward to try to reach Ronaldinho's shot, but it dropped in over his head.
Seaman cried openly as he talked briefly with reporters.
"The main thing is I just feel sorry for the fans," he said.
Pressed to describe what happened, the tears flowed.
"It's just so hard," he said as he walked away.
Ronaldinho said team captain Cafu had told him that Seaman "always plays up off his line."
"I tried to put it over his head and got lucky," Ronaldinho said.
England captain David Beckham said it would be an "absolute disgrace" to blame Seaman for the loss.