England’s reincarnation as the new Brazil and Brazil’s reincarnation as the new England will have to wait. The kings of the Beautiful Game proved annoyingly reluctant to cede what is left of their reputation to an England side that has been touted as a team of all the talents and gilded an assured display with a late winner from their great new hope.
As England began their build-up to the European Championships in earnest, a Brazil team that had lost their last three matches and had been written off as a pale imitation of the great sides of the past, made Gareth Southgate’s Euros favourites look distinctly ordinary with their slick passing and quicksilver movement.
Ten minutes from the end, they got the goal they deserved when Endrick, their 17-year-old sensation, who will play for Real Madrid next season after signing from Palmeiras and had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes, pounced on a loose ball after Jordan Pickford had saved from Vinicius Jr and rolled it into an empty net.
And so, for all the optimism that rightly surrounds Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo, who made his debut on Saturday, Brazil celebrated Endrick’s first goal for his country as if it were a sign of rebirth and England were left to wrestle with the reality of an underwhelming performance as they start their build up to the Euros.
England seemed flat. They looked ordinary. Given that they were missing Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, perhaps that was not a surprise, particularly given the pedigree of some of the players that lined up against them here.
Gareth Southgate’s side fell flat in their first of four preparation games ahead of Euro 2024
Endrick scored the winning goal late on after coming off the bench in the second half
England seemed flat and ordinary in what was supposed to be a game where they showed off their talent
But a sense of entitlement has grown up around England in the last two years, mainly because Southgate has led England to such a sustained period of success. And so defeat to a side that contained two of the best players in the world, in Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, was greeted by some as a calamity and a sign of impending doom this summer.
For so long, England and Brazil were at opposite ends of the footballing spectrum. Brazil were the purveyors of the Beautiful Game, artists who played with joy in their feet and on their faces and who destroyed the opposition with football from the heavens.
England were the lumpen proletariat of the game, often derided for long–ball tactics and their failings in technique. The perception was that Brazil loved having the ball at their feet. England couldn’t wait to get rid of it. That has changed now but Brazil’s muscle memory was still too much at Wembley.
Southgate had made a bold selection by picking Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon on the left.
Few could argue that Gordon did not deserve a debut. Newcastle may have had a disappointing season but Gordon has still managed to shine and impress with his quality and his incisive running from the flank.
His inclusion in the starting line-up also served as a reminder that Marcus Rashford is facing even more of a fight to force his way into the first team, particularly if Foden plays on one side of Harry Kane in a more advanced role at the tournament.
The game also represented a fine opportunity for Ollie Watkins to cement his place as the understudy to Kane ahead of Ivan Toney. Watkins has been in excellent form for Aston Villa, spearheading their rise into the top four. He, too, deserved his shot.
The spotlight rarely seems to fall on Conor Gallagher and yet it was he who made the strongest impression as the game began, just as he often does with Chelsea amid more starry names. Twice he surged forward in the opening exchanges and twice he was brought down by Lucas Paqueta.
Paqueta wagged his finger at the referee in the time-honoured tradition of players denying responsibility for blatant fouls. It made no difference to the decisions but England could not capitalise from the resulting free kicks.
A sense of entitlement has grown up around England in the last two years, due to their success
Kyle Walker had to be alert to prevent Vinicius Jr from giving Brazil the lead after 12 minutes
Despite England’s bright start, Brazil should have taken the lead after 12 minutes. Vinicius Jr ran on to a brilliant ball over the top of the England defence from Paqueta and sprinted through on goal.
Jordan Pickford came out to meet him but even though Vinicius Jr slid the ball past him, Kyle Walker can run faster than a bullet and he raced back to stop the ball before it reached the line.
He stood on the ball calmly for an instant before almost ruining the effect by chipping the ball forward and but hitting it straight into the back of Harry Maguire’s head. It felt rather comic. England were lucky to get away with it.
The opening stages of the second half were shapeless and turgid but nearly 20 minutes into it, Brazil nearly produced a moment of magic. It was Guimaraes and Paqueta again. Guimaraes curled the ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Paqueta and Paqueta hit it first time, bending it beyond Pickford’s dive but just wide of the post.
Jude Bellingham was substituted earlier than he would have liked after being treated for cramp
Bellingham was substituted after being treated for cramp and a few minutes later, Wembley was treated to the sight of the teenage phenomenon, Endrick, who will play for Real Madrid next season, coming off the bench.
Bellingham was booked for a mistimed lunge on Guimaraes and Brazil gave England another lesson in the attacking quality they still possess when a lovely exchange between Vini Jr and Rodrygo almost freed Vini Jr before he fell under Walker’s challenge. The referee waved away claims for a penalty.
Watkins missed a sharp chance at the other end after Gallagher had lifted the ball through to him but England – and Manchester City – suffered a blow midway through the half when Walker was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury. City play Arsenal on Sunday and Real Madrid a week on Tuesday. They will desperately be hoping the injury does not keep him out.
Ollie Watkins, stepping in for injured Harry Kane, missed potentially England’s best chance
They – like Man City – will be sweating on the fitness of Kyle Walker, who went off injured
England had another lucky escape ten minutes before the interval when the ball fell to Paqueta inside a crowded England penalty area and he curled a left foot shot against the post with Pickford well beaten.
Soon after, Paqueta was booked for yet another foul. Two minutes after that, he brought Bellingham down when Bellingham was in full flow. England suggested relatively forcefully that a red card might be in order. The referee disagreed.
Four minutes before the interval, England handed Brazil another chance. Maguire made a horrible mess of an attempted backpass and it fell straight to Raphinha ten yards out. Raphinha only had Pickford to beat but he dragged his shot across Pickford and wide of the post.
Brazil were too much for England in the end, with Vinicius Jr’s effort falling kindly to Endrick
Brazil were playing some fine football. When Guimaraes and Paqueta combined in midfield with quick exchanges of short passes, England found it difficult to get near them. Vini Jr and Rodrygo were similarly elusive in attack.
In the end, they were too much for England and when Vini Jr burst through one more time after another defensive error from the home team, the stage was set for Endrick.
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