World Cup 2014 draw: Belo Horizonte ball boy's memories a haunting reminder for England They had already beaten Chile in their Group Two opener at the Maracana - albeit unconvincingly - and were tipped to make mincemeat of an American team so ragtag that they were 500-1 to lift the Jules Rimet trophy themselves. "As well as being the "Kings of Football," England were the inventors of the game," Cordeiro said. I was curious to have them here in Belo. What was the difference between them and us? Are they better than us? What Cordeiro got was a lesson in the consequences of complacency. "England believed they could win at any time and looked like they wanted to put on a show," he said. Indeed, so cocksure were they that they chose not to recall star player Stanley Matthews after he rejoined the squad following a bizarre detour to Canada as a Football Association goodwill ambassador. Their overconfidence looked justified early in the game, with United States goalkeeper Frank Borghi - a hearse driver by trade - and the woodwork denying them more than once. Cordeiro was at the other end of the pitch, a mere spectator along with England keeper Bert Williams. The ball boy finally looked set to have something to do in the 37th minute when high school teacher Walter Bahr hit a wayward shot seemingly destined for the stands. But Joe Gaetjens, who was not even an American citizen, somehow readjusted himself to divert the ball beyond Williams. "I remember the look on the goalkeeper's face," said Cordeiro. He was astonished, disbelieving. England still had 53 minutes to mount a salvage operation but a combination of bad luck, worse finishing and stoic American resistance proved their undoing. The US players duly celebrated as if they had won the World Cup itself. "Their staff were carrying them around the ground," recalled Cordeiro. England endured another surprise defeat to Spain to crash out of the tournament in ignominy, while even Cordeiro's story did not have an entirely happy ending. After one more World Cup match as a ball-boy, he resumed his own football career, only for it to be cut short by a broken leg. "At that time, medical treatment wasn't as good and I went to work in the public sector," he said. Cordeiro's affection for England remains undimmed even now. He would love nothing more than to see England again in the flesh 64 years on, something possible depending on Friday's World Cup draw. Belo Horizonte will host six matches next summer, albeit at the nearby Estadio Mineirao. "It would be very interesting to have England here again," Cordeiro said. Turning to one of Belo Horizonte's city administrators, he added: "I am expecting to get a ticket..."