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By Rodrigo Amaral
BBC Sport Online
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The manner of their team's 2-1 victory over England has finally won over the sceptical Brazilian media.
For the first time in this World Cup, newspapers in Brazil are prepared to admit unreservedly that their team is playing well and deserve to be in the semi-finals.
Early match reports appearing on newspaper websites stress that both teams showed plenty of respect for each other.
But they delight in the way Brazil produced their most impressive display so far to beat a well-organised if not particularly creative England team.
"Brazil faced strong opponents and played in a mature way," the Uol news website writes.
The report has particular praise for the way Brazil behaved after Ronaldinho's controversial red card early in the second half.
"In spite of England's pressure, the team resisted bravely and with good awareness, and kept the advantage safe."
Rio di Janeiro's Globo newspaper argues that Rivaldo came out on top in his private battle for supremacy with England's David Beckham.
"While England's captain and greatest star insisted on long balls from every part of the football pitch, Brazil's number 10 took on himself the responsibility to change the game," the newspaper writes.
"He scored the first goal and took part in Brazil's best attacks."
The jury remains out, however, about whether Ronaldinho intended his winning goal as across or a shot.
All are agreed that his run which led to Brazil's first goal was a supreme piece of skill and Rio's Jornal do Brasil thinks he saw David Seaman off his line and opted to go for goal.
Estado de Sao Paulo and Pele.net are less convinced, thinking he meant only to cross the ball into the box.
His sending-off is also causing controversy within the Brazilian media.
Folha Online says the Brazilian forward committed a "childish" foul on Danny Mills, and, from being the game's hero, could easily have become the villain.
O Globo, however, says that Mexican referee Felipe Ramos Rizo was excessively harsh in flourishing the red card.
Reporters are unanimous in their condemnation of Lucio's mistake which gave Michael Owen the opening goal.
It was the kind of error that usually ends international careers in Brazil, as happened to midfielder Toninho Cerezo when he gifted Italy a soft goal in 1982.
"If Brazil had been knocked out, I would be lost," a relieved Lucio said after the match.
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