Brazil 1-0 England: Quality shines through

England’s preparations for next year’s World Cup in South Africa got off to a slow start yesterday as they were confidently beaten by the World No.1 side Brazil. Nilmar’s 47th minute header was enough to see off the challenge of Fabio Capello’s men.

Admittedly it was a second string England side, but one that still consisted of regulars Wayne Rooney, Gareth Barry, and Shaun Wright-Phillips. However, England did learn a valuable lesson, one that they’ll need to revise up to and during next summer’s finals; Keep the ball.

Brazil were by far the better side, and whilst England were without a number of regulars in their XI, so too were the South American giants. Kaka and Dani Alves were arguably the only superstars amongst Dunga’s team. Despite the lack of first choice players on both sides, Brazil passed England off the pitch and showed much more invention and imagination in the final third. In sweltering conditions surely it was obvious that’s what England needed to do? Instead, possession was lost far too easily, and Brazil were seldom made to work hard to close their opponents down or retain the ball when they were in possession.

There’s been lots of talk recently about England’s hopes and chances of lifting the World Cup next year, but on the evidence of last night’s match, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Retaining possession is one of the basics of Football, right through from junior level to the professional game. It’s not especially difficult. A feature of Brazil’s play was how quickly they moved it. Often they’d play 2 or 3 touch Football throughout the match and they made it very difficult for England to win it back. A weary looking England was evidence of that at the end of the match.

Perhaps a stronger England side would have created a different outcome and produced a better performance. It was a chance for the fringe players to put their case forward to Mr. Capello before he picks his squad for the finals sometime next year. Unfortunately they’ll be some disappointed members of that particular England squad, none more so than Wes Brown, who I thought was distinctly average. His error mid-way through the second half allowed Nilmar in to win a penalty from the outstretched Ben Foster, who was lucky to stay on the pitch.

As the party settle back in England, they’ll be a lot for Capello to ponder ahead of the World Cup draw in early December.