“Good evening Rob,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “It’s a great dilemma isn’t it? You win and it is likely to be discounted as a win against a depleted side. ose or draw, then it shall be ‘if you can’t beat THIS Brazilian side, what hopes can you possibly have?’”
That works both ways though, no? England are missing four or five of their best XI. I think this game could be lots of fun.
This is a very inexperienced Brazil side, with five debutants – including Wolves’ Joao Gomes, the goalkeeper Bento and the 20-year-old centre-back Lucas Beraldo of Paris Saint-Germain. It’s Brazil’s first game under Dorival Jr, who took over when Fernando Diniz was sacked after three straight defeats in World Cup qualifying.
There will be an air of sadness at Wembley tonight. This is England’s first game since the death of Terry Venables and the announcement that Sven-Goran Eriksson has terminal cancer. As I type Channel 4 are showing an interview with Eriksson at his house in Sweden; it’s moving, of course it is, but it’s also charming, funny and remarkably dignified. I’d urge you to watch it.
Read David Hytner’s preview
Gareth Southgate’s pre-match interview
They’re different players [Watkins and Kane], so we have to have an appreciation of the way Ollie plays and not ask him to do the same things Harry does.
We want [Anthony Gordon] to do what he’s done for his club all season. He doesn’t need to do anything different to that. He’s been exciting with the ball, he scores goals, he works hard. I have to say he’s trained really well all week; he looks like he’s been with us forever. I think he’ll play really well tonight.
[How hard has it been to keep the noise about the kit and your future out] We’re used to it! All we ever get is noise. We’re used to it, don’t worry. You have so much to focus on with these international weeks, working from 6am to midnight. You don’t have time for the other bits.
For me the most important thing on the England shirt is the Three Lions. At times we’ve had the St George’s flag on the kit, at times we haven’t. In my head you can’t change the St George’s flag – it’s white with a red cross, so anything else is artistic or whatever. It’s been a long way from my vein of concentration.
As expected, Anthony Gordon makes his international debut. Ollie Watkins starts up front in the absence of Harry Kane, and Kyle Walker captains the team.
England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice, Gallagher; Foden, Bellingham, Gordon, Watkins.
Substitutes: Bowen, Branthwaite, Dunk, Gomez, Johnstone, Konsa, Maddison, Mainoo, Ramsdale, Rashford, Toney.
Brazil (possible 4-2-3-1) Bento; Danilo, Fabricio Bruno, Lucas Beraldo, Wendell; Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes; Raphinha, Paqueta, Rodrygo; Vinicius Jr.
Subs: Rafael Monteiro, Leo Jardim, Murilo, Bremer, Richarlison, Yan Couto, Pepe, Andre Trindade, Douglas Luiz, Andreas Pereira, Savio, Endrick, Galeno, Ayrton Lucas, Pablo Maia.
Referee Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
For the first time in living memory, England go into a match against Brazil as equals, arguably superiors. The Fifa rankings have England in third, two places above Brazil. It’s not that long since England players were likely to go a big, rubbery one at the sight of that famous yellow shirt, but it will be a surprise if they are awestruck tonight.
A lot has changed since these teams last met – a 0-0 draw in 2017 when England were still finding their way under Gareth Southgate. Back then England were below Peru, Chile, Poland and others in the Fifa rankings. Now the only teams above them are Argentina and France. For those who grew up when England had one of the worst talk:walk ratios in international football, it’s all a bit confusing.
Tonight’s match is the beginning of England’s build up to Euro 2024, a tournament they have a realistic chance of winning. Belgium also come to Wembley on Tuesday. England’s injury crisis has drained a bit of the excitement from two high-profile fixtures, although there is an upside of sorts. The absence of players like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold gives others the chance to push for a place in the squad, maybe even the first XI. We’ll have team news shortly.
Kick off 7pm.