England and Brazil will look to kick-start their preparations for their respective summer tournaments when they clash at Wembley on Saturday.
The international break continues into the weekend, with Saturday bringing us a plethora of action. The most eye-catching fixture on the day will come from Wembley, where England will host Brazil as the two teams look to begin their preparations for UEFA Euro 2024 and Copa America, respectively.
England qualified for the UEFA Euro 2024 by finishing atop Group C of the qualification table after an unbeaten campaign. Beating Italy to the top spot would have felt sweet for the Three Lions as they prepare for their fourth major tournament under the tutelage of Gareth Southgate.
As for Brazil, they have blown hot and cold since suffering the shock ouster from the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the hands of Croatia. Tite parted ways with the Selecao when the World Cup campaign ended, with Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz taking charge of the team as the caretaker managers before the arrival of Dorival Junior in January. So, a new era begins after a horrendous 2023, which had only three wins and five defeats.
The most recent clash featuring England and Brazil also came at Wembley, with the two teams playing a goalless draw. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
England
Gareth Southgate has several new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. England’s head coach had already made several changes to his squad heading into the first international break of the year.
But he will be without two pivotal figures on Saturday, with Bukayo Saka pulling out from the squad, while Harry Kane will be unavailable this weekend due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Marc Guehi, Kieran Tierney, Luke Shaw, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jack Grealish are notable absentees for the home side.
Jordan Pickford should take his usual spot between the sticks, with England lining up in a 4-3-3 formation against Brazil. The backline should feature Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, and the in-form Joe Gomez.
As for the midfield unit, Declan Rice will sit at the base, with Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham supporting him in the defensive phases. Kobbie Mainoo should appear off the bench in the second half to make his international debut. Finally, Ollie Watkins should lead the line for the home side, with Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Gomez; Foden, Rice, Bellingham; Bowen, Watkins, Rashford
Brazil
Like his counterpart in the English dugout, Dorival Junior has new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Wembley. Brazil’s head coach has seen nearly half a dozen players withdraw their names from the squad for this month’s international games.
Ederson, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Casemiro, and Gabriel Martinelli have pulled out from the squad. In addition, the latest group does not feature the injured quintet of Alisson Becker, Eder Militao, Joelinton, Joao Pedro, and the talismanic Neymar.
Brazil should line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against England, with Bento deputising for Alisson between the sticks. The backline should feature Danilo, Gleison Bremer, Lucas Beraldo, and Wendell.
As for the midfield unit, Bruno Guimaraes and Douglas Luiz should pair up in the double pivot. The duo should look to keep things tight in the middle of the park, allowing the offensive quartet of Raphinha, Rodrygo, Richarlison, and Vinicius Jr. to express themselves freely in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bento; Danilo, Bremer, Beraldo, Wendell; Guimaraes, Luiz; Raphinha, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison
Key Stats
- England and Brazil have previously locked horns 26 times, with the Selecao having the superior head-to-head record with 11 wins (D11 L4).
- Excluding penalty shootouts, England are unbeaten in 20 consecutive matches at Wembley.
- Brazil lost three successive games to end 2023. The Selecao have not lost four matches in a row since July 2001.
- Gareth Southgate has beaten 39 of the 42 different opponents he has faced as England manager but drew his only previous encounter in charge against Brazil.
- Brazil have a good recent record against teams from the UEFA Confederation. They have won 10 of their last 11 friendlies against European nations (D1), scoring 25 goals and conceding only four times. The most recent European team to beat them in a friendly was Switzerland in August 2013.
Player to Watch
Ollie Watkins
With Harry Kane missing Saturday’s game against Brazil with an ankle injury, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have a chance to impress Gareth Southgate as they vie for the first backup position in England’s squad heading into UEFA Euro 2024. So, Watkins gets the nod in this section.
The 28-year-old has been in the form of his life this season, often scoring goals for fun while also setting up many strikes. With his game evolving, Aston Villa’s star striker will now look to establish a foothold in his national team. So, Saturday’s game is crucial for him to grow in stature on the international stage.
Prediction
England 2-1 Brazil
Saturday’s game features two teams in contrasting runs of form. While England’s form and stature are going on an upward trajectory, the visitors have blown hot and cold since Tite’s exit 18 months ago.
Brazil’s squad has some exceptional players who are in good touch. But a lack of chemistry often proves their undoing, and England should capitalise on that. So, the Selecao will see their exceptional record against European teams take a hit on Saturday, with England clinching a narrow 2-1 win over Brazil at Wembley this weekend.
