Spain then added to Diego Maradona's worries by beating his Argentina side 2-1, with two goals from Xabi Alonso, as the teams that have already qualified for South Africa 2010 began their preparations.
Maradona faced a Fifa disciplinary tribunal in Zurich on Sunday over his behaviour following last month's win in Uruguay, which clinched his team's place at the World Cup. He was banned from football for two months, until January 15 2010, and fined £15000.
In other games between qualified teams, Slovakia beat the USA 1-0, while the Denmark-South Korea and Italy-Netherlands matches ended in goalless stalemates.
England last beat Brazil in March 1990 and their injury-weakened team rarely looked like ending that streak. The eight meetings since then, including Saturday's in Qatar, have seen four Brazil wins and four draws.
Nilmar headed the only goal of the game two minutes after halftime, but there could have been more as Luis Fabiano missed a penalty and Lucio hit the post.
Alonso put European champions Spain ahead after 16 minutes against Argentina in Madrid and then converted an 86th minute penalty.
Lionel Messi scored from a penalty just after the hour for Argentina, who staggered to South Africa after losing to Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador and Brazil under Maradona's leadership.
Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsit also converted a penalty, his eighth international goal, to give Slovakia a 1-0 win over the USA.
The USA were forced to field a weakened team because of domestic club commitments.
A goal from striker Danko Lazovic in the 57th minute gave qualified Serbia a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
Switzerland, another qualifier, slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against Norway, who missed out on South Africa.
John Carew scored the only goal of a drab match from a second-half penalty to end Ottmar Hitzfeld team's 11-match unbeaten run.
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