Football. Endrick’s Brazil silenced the English at Wembley

The Palmyras minor striker, who came on ten minutes earlier, made the most of his future Real Madrid partner Vinicius’ strike, which was denied by Jordan Pickford (80th, 0-1). He celebrated this goal like crazy in front of the yellow and green stands of Brazilian supporters, the liveliest of all.

Many absentees and small scenes

If Wembley sold out the European vice-champions and Selecao against five world stars for this stacked poster, the atmosphere was not a great night. It is certain that there are few good people on both sides. Brazil traveled to London without Ederson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Martinelli or Neymar out with long-term injuries. England, for their part, were without stalwarts such as captain Harry Kane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka, as well as young striker Cole Palmer.

This is reflected in the quality of the show, which is generally not up to par. English supporters had more fun watching the paper airplanes produced and launched from the stands than the game played on the pitch. Even Manchester United’s 18-year-old hopeful Kobi Mainu’s excellent international baptism was marred by the second-half return of prodigy Entrick, a proper “super-sub” (super-substitute). English says.

The meeting will have served as a squad review for Gareth Southgate three days before they welcome new prestigious guests Belgium in north London on Tuesday as part of their preparations for Euro-2024. The coach handed Anthony Gordon a first entry cap and the Newcastle left winger, at 23, was eager and uninhibited.

England is lagging behind

He first saw Ezri Konsa, the Aston Villa defender, who came on after twenty minutes, replacing evening captain Kyle Walker with a leg injury. Up front, Ollie Watkins tried to make people forget Kane’s absence with a less participatory style than “King Harry”, but a few balls and a lack of collective pace helped him badly.

If the English attack did not shine, the defense showed signs of fever, especially in the central pair formed by John Stones and Harry Maguire, often lost to pace or clumsiness. Only a lack of determination and precision on the part of Brazil allowed the English to put the ball in the back of their net before the break.

Vinicius, for example, escaped behind the defense and got the better of Pickford, but his shot was too soft to be blocked by Walker who turned just in time (12th). Lucas Paqueta saw his shot deflected off a post (35th) and Robinha would miss the target (42nd) after an error that looked like Maguire’s offering was the author of a completely missed back pass.