England 0-1 Brazil
You know it’s a slow news week when a fuss is being made over a design on the new England kit but that was hardly on the minds of any football fan when the action began.
For any game between England and Brazil will make the pulse quicken and, even though it may have only been an international friendly, it was a prestigious one so the desire to perform was clear.
A meeting between what some say is a nation which invented the game against a country which made people fall in love with it, players on both sides were doubly keen to impress ahead of an important summer – England at Euro 2024, the South Americans at the Copa America – and international friendly highlights were anticipated.
Ultimately, in a fairly scrappy encounter, the decisive moment came 10 minutes from time when Brazilian teenage prospect Endrick converted from close range after Jordan Pickford had saved Vinicius Jr’s initial effort.
It was a special moment for the 17-year-old and quite an introduction to international football for the new Brazil manager Dorival Junior.
Real Madrid-bound Endrick is regarded as the new sensation of Brazilian football and his winning goal rewrote Wembley history, becoming the youngest goalscorer for club or country at the stadium at just 17 years and 246 days.
It brought a ray of sunshine following a tempestuous 16 months for the national team.
Tite parted ways with the Selecao after their 2022 World Cup campaign ended in the quarter-finals, since when Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz have taken charge of the team as caretaker managers before the arrival of Junior in January.
As a result, this was the start of a new era following a horrendous 2023, which mustered only three wins and five defeats, so no wonder the SBOTOP International friendly betting odds backed the hosts.
England were far from their best and missed injured trio Bukayo Saka, Luke Shaw and captain Harry Kane, yet there were still plenty of positives in defeat.
Anthony Gordon was encouraging on his debut, as was teenager Kobbie Mainoo when he came on in the closing stages.
The fact they lost Kyle Walker to injury early on though weakened which is already their weak area (defence) and Brazil played through the home side at times while, cleverly or cynically depending on your viewpoint, identified Jude Bellingham as England’s main man and a series of tactical fouls ensured he was a marked man.
England and Brazil had previously locked horns 26 times, with the Selecao having the superior head-to-head record with 11 wins compared to just four England successes.
Tonight’s result turned those statistics around and ensured the Selecao would not lose four matches in a row for the first time since July 2001 as they stretched even further their unbeaten record against European teams in friendlies (Switzerland were the last side to defeat them in August 2013).
Slow news week or not, the reaction from the English media to this defeat will almost certainly be over the top.
It’s been known for some time that Gareth Southgate has probably overachieved in his time in charge of England, but he should not be heavily criticised.
Their achilles heel remains central defence and, with a notable nod to Manchester City captain Walker, none of the class of 2024 are of the quality of previous England centre backs – I’m thinking Des Walker, Tony Adams, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry (and there are others). As a result, no-one should be surprised when England struggle against world class attackers.
It’s Belgium at home now for England in another friendly on Tuesday night (March 26).
They will then host two more friendlies in June against Bosnia and Iceland before the start of Euro 2024.
Brazil head to Madrid to meet Spain, also on Tuesday evening.
Their Copa America campaign begins on June 25, before which they have friendlies against Mexico (June 8) and the USA (June 13).
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