The Hard Tackle lists three players who can make a positive impact when England and Brazil lock horns at Wembley on Saturday.
The international break is in full force, producing some intriguing results thus far. But one of the most eye-catching fixtures of the fortnight comes our way from Wembley on Saturday evening, with England and Brazil locking horns in London.
England’s star has risen under the tutelage of Gareth Southgate, even though they have not won a tournament yet. But the Three Lions have reached the latter stages of every competition, with the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals being their earliest ouster.
As for Brazil, they have been in a transitional phase since the departure of Tite after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Two caretaker managers have taken charge of the Selecao, with Dorival Junior becoming the head coach after relentless links with Carlo Ancelotti in the last 12 months. But the away side’s recent form has been sub-par, and they need to step up considerably.
England and Brazil have had a one-sided rivalry over the years, and the Three Lions will feel they have a chance to claw back and correct the record. But slim margins of error mean the game will go down the wire. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle lists three “key players” for Saturday’s big clash at Wembley.
Rodrygo Goes
Our first pick might surprise a few, considering we could have gone ahead with players like Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, and Raphinha. But Rodrygo gets the nod to kick-start our shortlist ahead of Saturday’s big game.
The Brazilian international has overcome a slow start to the 2023/24 season by amassing 13 goals and eight assists thus far. He has been a consistent performer in the final third, even though Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior have overshadowed him with their dazzling displays.
Rodrygo’s showings have also piqued the interest of high-profile clubs, with Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United keen on signing him. But a summer move is unlikely, with the young attacker happy and content at Real Madrid.
As for matters on Saturday, Rodrygo will likely reprise a central role, which has seemingly brought the best out of him instead of playing on the right flank. The 23-year-old will look to pull the strings from advanced positions while making late ghosting runs into the box. That will put the English defenders on their toes and bring the other Brazilian attackers into the game.
Jude Bellingham
Our Real Madrid theme continues in this list, with Jude Bellingham being the second pick. So, Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, and Phil Foden miss out, even though they had rightful claims to be on this list.
Bellingham has been excellent in the 2023/24 season thus far, often scoring goals for fun while turning out for Real Madrid. He has a different role with the English national team, with Gareth Southgate utilising him as a box-to-box midfielder instead of installing him in more advanced positions.
Nevertheless, such is Bellingham’s quality with the ball at his feet and in the defensive phases that he will help Declan Rice in keeping the Brazilian attackers quiet. In addition, his ghosting runs and attempts from long range will make him a dangerous player to contain for Brazil’s vulnerable backline. Expect the Real Madrid talisman to rise to the occasion this weekend.
Vinicius Jr.
Our list ends with another Real Madrid player, making it a fully Real Madrid-themed feature. We are talking about Vinicius Junior, who has often taken on the mantle of being Brazil’s talismanic attacker in the absence of Neymar.
With the veteran forward unavailable due to his long-term injury, the younger lot has had to embrace more responsibility in the national side. That brings the onus on Vinicius, Rodrygo, Raphinha, and Richarlison to step up and make their mark, with Vinicius, in particular, having hopes riding on him.
The Real Madrid attacker’s direct runs and blistering pace often leave opposition defenders in a daze. With Kyle Walker likely starting as England’s right-back, Vinicius can give relentless nightmares to the veteran Englishman on Saturday. In addition, his creative abilities should trouble the other English defenders and bring Richarlison, Rodrygo, and Raphinha into the game.
