The signs beforehand were that this might be a night of glorious failure for Wales at the Millennium Stadium. As kick-off approached several of the surviving members of the team beaten 1-0 by Brazil in the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup were introduced to the crowd. Missing John Charles because of injury that day, Wales succumbed to a late goal by Pele.

Here it was the current star, Ryan Giggs, who was out of action because of a thigh problem. The disappointment was obvious among the 72,500 spectators, although there was a frisson of excitement when it was announced that the stadium roof would be closed for a match for the first time, producing Britain's first indoor football match.

If anyone had real cause for excitement, though, it was the Swansea goalkeeper Roger Freestone, handed his international debut at the age of 31 in the absence of the injured Paul Jones. In recent months he has been playing at venues such as Macclesfield and Brighton in the Third Division. Now Rivaldo and company loomed.

Although Brazil dominated possession and Rivaldo showed the odd touch of class, they were far from their most fluent. An uncharacteristic number of passes were misplaced and they conjured little in attack, though Wales deserved some credit for that.

Aggressive and organised as Mark Hughes had wanted, they gave Brazil as little time as possible on the ball. In midfield Robbie Savage, Gary Speed and Matthew Jones worked their socks off.

Iwan Roberts caused problems with his height up front but there was little to quicken the pulse of the crowd until just before half-time. When Gary Speed tried his luck from a long-range free-kick Brazil's goalkeeper Dida looked shocked at the need to do something but Wales failed to capitalise when he spilled the ball. Shortly after Freestone showed no such jitters, saving well when Cesar Sampaio got a head on a Rivaldo corner.

In the first minute of the second half, Robinson's cross from the left was dummied by Savage and hooked wide by Saunders from 10 yards. A minute later Robbie Savage was booked for cutting down Ze Roberto as the Brazilians threatened to overpower Wales.

Rivaldo, from 25 yards, saw a shot skim inches wide, but the Welsh held out until the 63rd minute. Freestone made fine saves with his feet from Franca and Zo Roberto before the ball fell kindly for Elber to finish from a yard out.

Three minutes after the goal Robinson gave those fans hope when he cracked a blistering drive against the foot of a post.

But any thought of a Wales comeback was dashed on 71 minutes when Cafu struck a dipping drive that flashed past Freestone into the bottom corner. Two minutes later substitute Denilson crossed from the left and Rivaldo crashed a spectacular near-post header past Freestone for the third.

Wales: Freestone, G Roberts, Page, Melville, Delaney, M Jones (Bellamy 75), Savage (Johnson 75), Speed, J Robinson, Saunders, I Roberts. Subs Not Used: Symons, Barnard, C Robinson, Weston, M Crossley. Booked: M. Jones, Savage.

Brazil: Dida, Silvinho, A Carlos, Aldair (Carvalho 84), Cafu (Assuncao 84), Ze Roberto, Cesar Sampaio, Rivaldo (Evanilson 84), Emerson, Franca, Elber (Denilson 70). Subs Not Used: Germano. Goals: Elber 62, Cafu 70, Rivaldo 72.

Referee: Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal).