Match Summary

England Team

Brazil Team

    Match Report by Mike Payne

It is wonderful to be home again!  Wembley Stadium, after all the trials, tribulations, and controversy of the building of this Temple of Football, has finally been christened.  As the teams appeared from the tunnel the scene looked magnificent under the lights, and fittingly, the first visitors to the new venue was Brazil, the country of the carnival.  Everything was set for a good game and it was Steve McLaren's England team who almost celebrated the occasion with a win.

To add to the poignancy of the evening a magnificent tribute of a minute's applause for the late, lamented Alan Ball was particularly moving.

Brazil began the game well and settled quickly.  With the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka showing all the typical flicks and clever passing of a Brazilian team, England's defenders had to be on their toes.  John Terry made some great interceptions and took on the dominant defensive role with relish.  But in the 19^th minute there was a let-off for the home side as a linesman's flag ruled out Gilberto Silva's headed goal.  Replays later showed that England had been lucky and the linesman made an incorrect decision.  But England played solidly in the first-half and grew in stature as the game progressed.  There was an excellent performance from left-back Nicky Shorey, who did everything he had to do perfectly.  Steven Gerrard also showed some of his Liverpool form, although it must be said that the partnership with Frank Lampard again looked uncomfortable.  In attack David Beckham fired a free-kick just wide and Michael Owen made some good darting runs into space only for the passes not to come his way.

Much of the play was in the midfield and goal chances were at a premium in the first half with neither goalkeeper being tested.  Owen headed a Beckham cross just over as England began the second half in the ascendancy.  McLaren changed his tactics somewhat and he packed the midfield, which did confuse the Brazilians, and the arrival of substitutes Kieron Dyer and  Stewart Downing also livened England up.  In the 65^th minute a spectacular 25 yard shot from Downing forced goalkeeper Helton to tip the ball over.  The increased pressure did pay off for England three minutes later though and it sent the home crowd wild with delight.  A free-kick to the far post taken by Beckham was headed in by the captain, John Terry.  For a while Brazil looked decidedly rattled.

After 77 minutes Beckham was substituted to huge applause, the former captain had made a good comeback for his manager, and it looked for all the world that England would hold on for their first win against Brazil for 17 years.  But you can never discount a side that contains so much goal power and right at the death Gilberto Silva's cross was headed in at full stretch by substitute Diego.  The fans were disappointed, but the 1-1 draw against a side as good as Brazil was full of positives for England and the match was a fitting opening to a new era at Wembley Stadium.