- In Saturday’s friendly match, England suffered a 1-0 defeat against Brazil.
- Endrick scored a late winning goal at Wembley.
England and Brazil were only separated by a late goal from the 17-year-old sensation, Endrick, in an international friendly on Saturday.
The future Real Madrid star came off the bench to secure the winning goal and steal the show at Wembley Stadium, much to the delight of the sizable travelling contingent.
Gareth Southgate’s team showed little inspiration from the beginning and suffered a deserved defeat, providing them with some valuable lessons to consider ahead of Euro 2024.
How the game unfolded
Rodrygo initiated the first goal-scoring opportunity by picking up the ball from deep and confidently advancing towards the England backline. However, his long-range attempt was saved by Jordan Pickford.
In another swift Brazil attack, Lucas Paqueta cleverly chipped the ball over a dormant backline to find Vinicius Junior. Pickford hesitated whether to advance or hold his position, eventually stumbling to the edge of his box. Vinicius’ shot nearly slipped past him, but Kyle Walker intervened, clearing the ball off the line.
At the other end, England missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Jude Bellingham showed composure to keep possession near the left corner flag and deliver a cross to Conor Gallagher at the edge of the box. Gallagher’s clever lob found Ollie Watkins, but his half-volley attempt sailed over the goal.
A scramble inside the England penalty area resulted in Paqueta hitting the post with a powerful left-footed strike. Shortly after, a misplaced back pass from Harry Maguire was intercepted by Raphinha, whose shot was pushed wide by Pickford.
The match became more closely contested after the break, but Paqueta came close to breaking the deadlock in stunning fashion, with his curling first-time strike narrowly missing the post.
With just ten minutes remaining, Brazil took the lead. Vinicius made a penetrating run behind the defense to latch onto Andreas Pereira’s through ball. Although Pickford saved his initial attempt, Endrick was on hand to slot home the rebound, making him the youngest scorer ever at Wembley Stadium.
Endrick was denied a second goal with the final kick of the game on the break, as Pickford made a crucial low save, securing Brazil’s narrow victory.
England player ratings
GK: Jordan Pickford – 6/10 – Made important saves, including one from Vinicius leading to Endrick’s goal.
RB: Kyle Walker – N/A – Substituted after 20 minutes due to injury; made a crucial clearance off the line before being replaced.
CB: John Stones – 5/10 – Played calmly but lacked intensity; England’s defense seemed less solid than usual.
CB: Harry Maguire – 4/10 – Made a clumsy mistake with a pass back, struggled against Brazil’s quick attackers.
LB: Ben Chilwell – 4/10 – Missed an opportunity to shine, offered little impact in attack or defense.
CM: Declan Rice – 5/10 – Didn’t control the game as he often does for Arsenal, England missed a playmaker in midfield.
CM: Conor Gallagher – 5/10 – Got forward well but struggled defensively.
RM: Phil Foden – 4/10 – Had little impact on the game, was largely ineffective in the second half.
AM: Jude Bellingham – 7/10 – Provided creativity for England in the first hour, needed more support from teammates.
LM: Anthony Gordon – 6/10 – Showed courage in taking on defenders, lacked support from other attackers.
CF: Ollie Watkins – 4/10 – Failed to impress as Kane’s backup, struggled against Brazil’s defense.
Brazil player ratings
GK: Bento – 6/10 – Had a quiet evening but made a few solid claims on crosses.
RB: Danilo – 6/10 – Initially troubled by Gordon but improved defensively in the second half.
CB: Fabricio Bruno – 7/10 – Made crucial clearances and blocks, providing solid protection in defense.
CB: Lucas Beraldo – 7/10 – Remained composed against England’s frontline, contributing to Brazil’s defensive stability.
LB: Wendell – 6/10 – Not heavily challenged by Foden, though struggled against Bowen after his introduction.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes – 6/10 – Showed determination in midfield battles, played cautiously compared to his usual style.
CM: Joao Gomes – 5/10 – Had a tentative debut, struggled against Mainoo late in the game.
RM: Raphinha – 6/10 – Didn’t trouble Maguire and Chilwell much, but managed to get a shot away against Maguire.
AM: Lucas Paqueta – 8/10 – Impressed with his passing and skills, though fortunate to escape without a red card for fouls.
LM: Vinicius Junior – 6/10 – Showed flashes of brilliance but lacked consistency, involved in Brazil’s winning goal despite missing a big chance.
CF: Rodrygo – 6/10 – Not a natural center forward but caused trouble when dropping deep to collect the ball.
Substitutes
SUB: Andreas Pereira (71′ for Paqueta) – 7/10 – Provided the crucial assist for the winning goal.
SUB: Endrick (71′ for Rodrygo) – 8/10 – Impressive performance from the 17-year-old, showcasing his potential for a promising future career.
For more Updates, follow What2bet on Facebook and Join our Telegram Community for daily updates and Betting Tips.
