Brazil’s new teenage sensation Endrick scored a late goal to hand England a defeat in a scrappy friendly match at Wembley.
The match appeared to be heading towards a draw until Vinicius Junior broke free, the 17-year-old substitute left with a straightforward finish from close range despite England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s efforts to save with 10 minutes remaining.
It marked a disappointing evening for England. Their defense, particularly Harry Maguire, seemed vulnerable, especially after losing captain Kyle Walker to a hamstring injury early in the game.
England manager Gareth Southgate handed a debut to Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon from the outset, while Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Manchester United’s teenage midfield talent Kobbie Mainoo earned their first caps as substitutes.
The game’s quality reflected the experimental nature of the teams, with Brazil enjoying the better chances in the first half. Ollie Watkins missed a close-range opportunity for England’s best chance, while Raphinha squandered Brazil’s biggest opportunity as he missed the target following Maguire’s poor backpass.
England’s standout performer Jude Bellingham endured rough treatment throughout the game until his substitution, just before Endrick’s winning goal sent the large Brazilian contingent into jubilant celebrations.
This defeat marked England’s first loss at Wembley in 21 games, since their defeat by Denmark in the UEFA Nations League in October 2020.
England’s tough night
The anticipation leading up to this friendly, particularly with the prestigious encounter against Brazil, was somewhat overshadowed by the discussion surrounding the redesigned flag of St. George on England’s new kit, which was debuted here at Wembley.
However, of greater concern to England and manager Southgate was a performance that highlighted some of the weaknesses that could potentially hinder their chances at Euro 2024 in the summer.
It’s worth noting that England were without key players such as captain Harry Kane and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka due to injuries. Nonetheless, the defensive aspect of their game appeared lackluster.
Ben Chilwell struggled to make an impact at left-back, while Maguire’s performance in central defense was subpar, displaying signs of nervousness and nearly conceding a first-half goal to Raphinha due to an error – in this case, a poor backpass – that could prove costly in Germany this summer.
Anthony Gordon showed glimpses of promise in his debut, but Aston Villa striker Watkins, aiming to stake his claim as Kane’s primary backup, will be disappointed with his missed opportunity from close range. He should have at least hit the target.
Kobbie Mainoo appeared assured during his brief appearance, but it was a physically demanding night for Bellingham, as his talent made him a prime target for Brazil’s players, resulting in consistent fouls.
Southgate will now turn his attention to preparations for the upcoming friendly against Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday, hoping for an improved performance from England.
Endrick in the record books
Endrick is regarded as the new sensation of Brazilian football and he rewrote Wembley history with his winning goal, becoming the youngest goalscorer for club or country at the stadium at just 17 years and 246 days.
He almost added a second with the final kick of the game only to be denied by Pickford, but his exciting cameo as a second-half substitute confirmed his status as a future superstar.
Chelsea had hoped to bring Endrick to Stamford Bridge from current club Palmeiras but lost out to Real Madrid, where he is heading and will join Bellingham, at the end of this season once he has turned 18. A golden future surely awaits.
Brazil may not be the glittering collection of superstars of old, but in Endrick they look to have another to add to their list.