ENGLAND 0, BRAZIL 0
Gareth Southgate was delighted how his young players stepped up to the plate in friendlies against Germany and Brazil in the space of four days.
England’s manager took plenty of positives from the games against the one and two ranked teams in the world.
“It could have been an incredibly difficult week when you look at the players we lost and the opposition, but it has been positive and the players have given me absolutely everything,” he said.
“The young players have stepped up against the best two teams in the world and there have been some top, top performances.”
Southgate admitted his side didn’t use the ball as well against Brazil claiming they were “anxious”.
“You know their threat if you turn over the ball. We defended collectively and with spirit, and there were some outstanding individual performances.
“I am proud.I regard Brazil as the best team in the world – they are the finished article and we are at a different part of the journey – but we stood up to them and came out with a creditable result.
“So many of our players were performing at this level for the first time, the likes of Harry Maguire. It will not get much tougher than that, and they will get confidence, It will be good for them moving forward.”
Clean sheets against the top two ranked teams in the world in the space of four days was a positive for England.
Joe Gomez, Maguire and John Stones were again the three centre back – Gomez replaced the injured Phil Jones early in Friday’s game – and they have staked a strong claim for starting spots in next summer’s finals of the World Cup. They were all praised by Southgate.
But for those with a glass half empty will point to the fact England also failed to find the net in those two games.
Despite fielding Jamie Vardy and Tammy Abraham on Friday, Vardy and Marcus Rashford against Brazil, England were unable to find a route to goal.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, England had two openings late in the game to post a victory, but neither Dominic Solanke or Tammy Abraham were able to convert.
“We had few clear-cut chances and could have nicked it at the end, but it would have been an injustice. I believe we have players who can score.”
It was another satisfactory workout for Southgate as he bids to shape his squad for Russia.
Southgate again had a sprinkling of youth in his side, though it was a more experience side to the one that faced Germany on Friday.
And with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Gomez, Maguire, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and to a lesser degree Abraham, England have unearthed potential jewels in the last two friendlies.
England made four changes from the side that started against Germany four days earlier.
Three were in defence as Joe Hart, Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand were recalled as was Rashford up front.
The players to lose out were Pickford, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose and Abraham.
Brazil’s 25 man squad had 19 players who have appeared in this season’s Champions League, including Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, who started, goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Fernandinho.
Their starters, including Neymar, Dani Alves, Philippe Coutinho, Marcelo and Paulinho, was significantly stronger than England.
It proved a lively opening as Jesus’ header forced a comfortably diving save from Hart while at the other end Rashford shot low at Alisson after a mazy run.
England were forced to make a change in the 35th minute when Ruben Loftus-Cheek limped off with a back problem to be replaced by Jesse Lingard.
It remained decidedly low key in the second half, though Coutinho bustled his way through the England defence only for Hart to make an important block.
And at the other end Alisson easily caught a Harry Maguire header from Rashford’s free kick.
England made two changes with 15 minutes left as Liverpool’s Solanke, who was making his full debut, and Abraham took over from Vardy and Rashford.
Brazil came within inches of taking the lead moments later when substitute Fernandinho made a dazzling run from midfield and unleashed a terrific drive from 25 yards that struck the upright.
Captain Eric Dier also had a decent effort, a free kick from 25 yards that flew a couple of yards wide.
Bertrand made way for Ashley Young as Southgate made a fourth change.
Brazil had another great chance to break the deadlock when Neymar’s dazzling run set up Paulinho whose angled shot was well turned round the post by Hart.
England might have snatched victory in the 90th minutes when Young’s cross found Solanke unmarked six yards out, but Alisson raced from his line to block at his feet.
Southgate’s fifth and final change in the last minute saw Rose replace Jake Livermore.
And England had another opening in the third and final minute of stoppage time when Walker’s low cross fell just in front of the onrushing Abraham.