England has always had difficulty overcoming Brazil. They have a poor track record against them compared to any other opponent. This recent match only compounded Gareth Southgate’s worries.
It was meant to be different, a friendly to fine-tune for the European Championship in the summer, even as Southgate missed key players – most notably the captain Harry Kane, Luke Shaw and Bukayo Saka. Brazil had been portrayed as being in crisis, the new manager, Dorival Júnior, warning that he did not have a magic wand. By the end, it looked as though he did.
England were second best. They could get little going in an attacking sense, Kane & co were missed, the understudies not doing enough; a few flashes from Anthony Gordon apart. There was the feeling, especially in the first half, that England were vulnerable – reports of Brazil’s demise are plainly premature – and Dorival Júnior’s team got the goal they deserved towards the end.
There was a mistake made by England’s backup player Lewis Dunk, who headed the ball incorrectly. Another backup player, Andreas Pereira, then passed the ball to Vinícius Júnior, who was able to pass the English defender John Stones and create a dangerous situation. Vinícius was prevented from scoring by Jordan Pickford, but the 17-year-old Brazilian player Endrick, who will be joining Real Madrid in the summer, was there to score on the rebound. Endrick had just come onto the field and nearly scored a second goal in the final moments of the game, but Pickford stopped him in a one-on-one situation.
The scattered negative reactions at the end of the game were expected and a common occurrence. Southgate has a lot to consider before the friendly match against Belgium on Tuesday. England’s track record against Brazil displays 12 losses in 27 games, and only four wins.
Southgate was without his usual players in four spots, including the midfield issue with Declan Rice. This became five when Kyle Walker left the game due to a hamstring injury in the beginning. Ezri Konsa made his debut as a substitute at right-back. England would have to work hard to find their flow.
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Before the game, there was a lot of talk about the “new Brazil” and how their fans at home have struggled to connect with the team. Despite their defeats in the South American World Cup qualifiers, many people in Brazil believe that their football is not at the same level as Europe’s top teams. Due to injuries, coach Dorival Júnior had to rely on five new players in the starting lineup. However, the presence of Vinícius provided some relief. As Brazil worked on their ball control and passing in the beginning of the game, the Wembley crowd was not very lively.
In the 12th minute, Vinícius had an opportunity to score but his shot was weak and missed past Pickford. This gave Walker the chance to recover and clear the goal. The chance was made possible by Lucas Paquetá’s impressive skill and a perfectly placed through-ball. There was another instance where Vinícius managed to maneuver away from Walker in the penalty area, but instead of shooting, he exaggerated the contact from Walker and fell to the ground. This was not a penalty.
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Brazil defied the negative predictions and proved to be the more threatening team. Vinícius was a clear danger, but failed to deliver in the first half. Rodrygo also showed promise, but wasted a big opportunity in the 42nd minute. Harry Maguire, unfortunately, had a forgettable moment when he lost the ball to Rodrygo and the false nine missed the mark with his shot. Brazil also had a chance when Paquetá hit the post with a sidefoot in the 35th minute.
England experienced the powerful impact of Brazil’s physicality, which often resulted in aggressive plays. Fortunately, Paquetá escaped receiving a second yellow card for a trip on Jude Bellingham right before the break. This was his fourth foul of the game.
Brazil focused on Bellingham, who received a caution for making a reckless tackle on Bruno Guimarães. This situation tested the Real midfielder’s ability to control his temper as he felt himself getting angry.
During the first half, England had opportunities to score, particularly when Ollie Watkins received a pass from Conor Gallagher but was unable to capitalize. Gordon also had some attempts before the break, but none seemed likely to result in a goal. One standout chance was from a free-kick near the far post. Additionally, Ben Chilwell missed a potential goal when he was well-positioned after a corner was partially cleared.
Gallagher had a tough night playing next to Rice for Southgate. Brazil targeted him, causing him to lose possession frequently. It seems unfair to solely blame Gallagher, especially when Foden also struggled to make a difference on the right wing or in the No 10 position when Bellingham was substituted off.
The energy inside a packed Wembley Stadium was lacking – we were in a state of boredom, indicated by the paper airplanes flying around – and it highlighted Brazil’s swift exchanges and England’s struggle to maintain pace and precision.
England fans showed the most enthusiasm during a lukewarm second half when Kobbie Mainoo was substituted in for his first appearance. The team led by Southgate did not generate any chances after the break. Paquetá had impressively curved a shot beyond the goal, but it was Endrick who ultimately made an impact.
Source: theguardian.com
