England National Football Team Match No. 303

Wednesday, 9 May 1956

England 4 Brazil 2 [2-0]

England Pre-Match

Empire Stadium, Wembley, 9th of May, 1956 - Nilton Santos chases Stanley  Matthews.
Tommy Taylor and Colin Grainger each scored twice, but 41-year-old outside right Matthews,
at his dazzling best as he played a role in all four goals, outshone everyone.  While the
Brazilians presented Matthews with a piece of silver as England's greatest  player, they
also pointedly declared during the pre-match buildup that no player in the world could
 get the better of their great left back, Nilton Santos.  As it turned out, he could not touchMatthews
on the day, and at  game's end, he had the grace to say, "Mr. Matthews, you are the king."

Notes

We do not know who the reserves were.  There were four lineup changes from the last match,  the 1-1 draw against Scotland at Hampden Park on 14 April.  On the wings, Stanley Matthews replaced Tom Finney and Colin Grainger, making his deubt, took over from Bill Perry, who had made the last of his three England  appearances.  The promising Tommy Taylor moved from inside right to centre-forward,  replacing Nat Lofthouse, who was soon to fall out of favour altogether, and John Atyeo, earning his second cap, came in as inside right.  At right halfback, Jimmy Dickinson, nearing the end of his England career, gave way to Ronnie Clayton, also making  his second appearance.

Reg Matthews remained in goal for his second cap, as the selectors continued the search for a long-term goalkeeper.   Jeff Hall appeared set to  become Roger Byrne's regular partner at fullback, and Duncan Edwards and Johnny Haynes were on their way to joining Billy Wright as fixtures in the team.

England's first meeting with Brazil.

____________________

PY