The State of Play
Gareth Southgate’s future is unknown and this could well be his final tournament in charge of England with the Three Lions’ latest ‘golden generation’ heading to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024 this summer as one of the leading contenders. They endured a difficult most recent international break as they were held to a draw by North Macedonia after labouring to victory over Malta at Wembley Stadium.
Fernando Diniz has relinquished the responsibility of coaching both Brazil and Fluminense with his replacement, Dorival Junior, undertaking a huge task with the Selecao ahead of the 2024 Copa America in the United States this summer. Brazil have started CONMEBOL qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup really badly with two victories, a draw and three defeats in their six matches through the autumn months.
Read our other international football news stories here:
Wales v Poland: Rob Page says Dragons have improved since World Cup
Manuel Neuer leaves Germany squad after suffering adductor injury
Mainoo targeting Euro 2024 after Man Utd wonderkid wins first England call-up
Team News
Bukayo Saka withdrew from the squad on Thursday, whilst the likes of Jordan Henderson, Cole Palmer and Harry Kane are all injury doubts. The likes of Nick Pope, Marc Guehi, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw and Jack Grealish remain out injured, too.
The Brazilian national team is very different to what many would expect for this trip to Wembley Stadium. The South Americans have named 11 uncapped players and there are seven others with a combined 15 caps between them.
Expected Line-ups
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Henderson, Rice; Palmer, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Brazil: Bento; Yan Couto, Bremer, Lucas Beraldo, Danilo; Douglas Luiz, Bruno Guimaraes; Rodrygo, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior; Richarlison
What they Said
Gareth Southgate’s major thing to deal with in this international break was him suggesting Ben White was in his thinking for this squad but the Arsenal defender asked ‘not to be selected at this time’.
Dorival Junior’s first ever match in charge of Brazil was dominated by Andreas Pereira dismissing suggestions that England currently have a better side with the Fulham midfielder referencing the fact that Brazil won a trophy three years ago but it has been over 50 years since England won a trophy.
When and How to Watch
This match will be played at Wembley Stadium in London at 19:00 on Saturday March 23rd and will be televised live on Channel 4 in the UK. It will also be able to be streamed live via the Channel 4 app or on Channel 4 via Sky Go in the UK.
Prediction
In the FIFA rankings, only the 2022 finalists Argentina and France sit above England in the top three, whilst five-time world champions Brazil have faded outside of the top five. Gareth Southgate has defeated Spain, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Croatia in his time in charge of England but now is a major opportunity to take another scalp and it comes at home to an inexperienced Brazil side very much in transition and in poor form. England, quite frankly, should win.
