Brazil 2 England 2: The really strange thing about this game is that there were long periods when English fans wanted to watch their team through the gaps in your fingers. Roy Hodgson's team were outpassed, often outplayed, but crucially not outdone and came very close to a win courtesy of wonderfully taken goals from the substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wayne Rooney.
For Hodgson, it ended up as a satisfying night’s work. Yet it was also one of those nights football occasionally throws up when it is difficult to explain how England could even be frustrated not to win. They had been abysmal for the opening hour, playing with neither wit nor gumption, and fortunate not to go behind long before Fred opened the scoring after 57 minutes.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s equaliser came ten minutes later and Rooney’s brilliant 25-yarder would have won the game but for Paulinho hooking in a fine goal. Yet the flurry of goals should not disguise England’s limitations
The 4-4-2 was gone, replaced by a new-look 4-1-2-3 system featuring Michael Carrick as the deepest-lying midfielder, Phil Jones partnering Frank Lampard in the centre, with Theo Walcott and James Milner shuttling up and down the wings alongside Rooney.
The idea
But Walcott and Milner were also under orders to drop back when Brazil were attacking and with Rooney alone in attack, England soon morphed into an unimaginative 4-5-1, just trying to hang on and muddle through.
It quickly became apparent Hodgson’s team was struggling in the vital department of taking care of the ball.
Brazil kept possession for large parts, subjecting England to some intense pressure during the opening stages, with four different players almost permanently in attack.
Neymar could look back on at least three decent opportunities inside the first half an hour. Dani Alves blasted a shot wide, Oscar tested Joe Hart from 20 yards, Hulk put one just by the post and Fred would have had a tap-in but for Glen Johnson’s clearance inside the six-yard area.
Brazil could easily have led by three or four before half-time. Neymar was certainly given a lot of space to show his his sublime gifts.
England also lost Leighton Baines in the first half, limping off to be replaced by Ashley Cole, and their only serious attempt in this period fell to Walcott who fired straight at Julio Cesar. Otherwise, it was Brazil who held the whiphand.
Twice in quick succession, Walcott had the ball in promising areas early in the second half. On both occasions he quickly wasted possession.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s decision to take off Oscar after 55 minutes had brought condemnation from the stands.
Yet the goal came shortly afterwards. Hernanes, a half-time substitute, tried a curler from 20 yards and the ball came back off the joint of crossbar and post. Fred was the only player to anticipate the rebound, and he hooked the rebound past Hart.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s equaliser, from Rooney’s lay-off, was thumped from 20 yards into the bottom corner and, suddenly, Brazil seemed to lose their nerve.
Rooney picked up the ball on the inside-left channel, cut inside and his deflected strike flew into the top corner.
Paulinho's goal was another beauty, lashing in a cross from the right, and the truth is Brazil deserved it. England had produced two extraordinary moments but, once again, they looked ordinary.
BRAZIL: Julio Cesar, Alves, T Silva, D Luiz , Felipe (Marcelo 46 ), Oscar (da Silva Lucas 56 ), Dias (Hernanes 46 ), Paulinho (Bernard 83 ), Fred (Leandro Damiao 80 ), Neymar, Hulk. Booked (F Martins 72 ).
ENGLAND: Hart, Johnson (Oxlade-Chamberlain 61 ), Baines (Cole 31), Cahill, Jagielka, Jones, Carrick, Lampard, Walcott (Rodwell (84), Milner, Rooney.
Booked: Jones. Att: 66,015
Referee: Wilmar Roldan
Guardian Service
