Key events
60 min: There’s a bit of a tussle here as Kelly keeps hold of the ball with Tarciane trying to get it off of her. A lot of player pile in but the referee handles it well and they all disperse. Those Brazil changes are coming but they just haven’t had the chance to come on yet, first England have a corner.
58 min: The Lionesses continue to push with the crowd in full voice now since that penalty but in open play Brazil have been largely impressive in defence. That may sound ridiculous with the red card and a penalty but they responded to the red really well. Hearing Brazil will be making a quadruple change, bear with while I madly type when they happen.
56 min: Despite the poor delivery England keep it alive, it comes to Mead whose header is collected by Lorena. But here come Brazil, Duda Sampaio takes a long range effort which is just wide.
54 min: England have the momentum now and they play it into the box but Stanway is crowded off the ball by Tarciane, who has played well for Brazil this evening. It’s out for a corner which Greenwood pops in but the delivery is poor.
A calm penalty as always from Stanway. Is this the start of a comeback? The last time Mead won a penalty for England it was that semi-final against Italy and we all know how that ended.
PENALTY! England 1-2 Brazil (Stanway 52)
Bia Zaneratto, who gave away the foul, is not happy but the penalty will be taken. Kelly had the ball but Stanway takes it, she is the usual taker, and she scores.
51 min: Hang on here, England have won a penalty as Mead was fouled in the box. The Arsenal star looks in pain but on first glance it looked soft. She is fouled after the ball leaves her feet so maybe not one Brazil can protest.
50 min: The ball pinballs around England’s box but nothing comes of it and Brazil counter. The threat troubles Carter enough to foul Dudinha which earns the defender a yellow card. Possession then switches between the teams.
48 min: Russo has been a menace all game, she is doing everything she needs to – England’s best of the pitch right now – and she wins a free kick. Carter finds Russo but she is then dispossessed.
47 min: England win an early free kick which they take quickly but they cough up possession.
Back underway: England 0-2 Brazil
Can the Lionesses retain their title of the comeback Queens and overturn this deficit? Or will Brazil continue on with their impressive performance? All to come. It looks like neither side have made any changes at the break.
Here’s a good half-time read for you:
Half-time: England 0-2 Brazil
Brazil got off to the perfect start with two quick fire goals produced from some footballing brilliance. Their captain Angelina was then sent off with commentary hinting it could be a way back in for England but the visitors have been thoroughly impressive and so the Lionesses trail at the break.
45 + 3 min: Tarciane wants a free kick after a challenge from Stanway in the box but it isn’t given, the Bayern Munich player attempted the shot but it’s way wide.
45 + 1 min: Greenwood delivers, it’s a good one but Kelly can’t turn it towards goal. A frustrating first half for the hosts, a brilliant performance from the visitors (aside from the red card). There will be five minutes added.
45 min: Mead wins another free kick after yet another foul on the Arsenal player.
43 min: How are we already in the 43rd minute? This game has gone so quickly. There’s more action now as Toone gives away a free kick. Brazil take it short but they do get it in the box with Ludmila ready to take a shot but she’s offside. England respond with an attack but Bia Zaneratto defends excellently to get a goal kick.
41 min: Mead does win a free kick moments later though with Greenwood’s delivery easily defended, the hosts are having absolutely no joy on the set pieces this evening.
40 min: A word for Brazil who are managing to contain England with 10 players after that earlier red card. The Lionesses get into the box to try and get back into this game but Mead takes too long to rifle off a shot, she is challenged and she wants a penalty but it would have been a soft one if it was given.
38 min: Greenwood takes the set piece again who goes short to Kelly and she feeds Greenwood again. It looks like a training pitch move and it does not go well at all, it’s out for a goal kick.
37 min: There’s a challenge off the ball with Russo down and in some pain here but I think the Arsenal star is okay to continue. Yes she is back to her feet before an England corner.
36 min: Mead wins a free kick after Mariza fouls her. It’s Manchester City captain Greenwood over the ball once again with a good delivery but Brazil run it out of play for a throw in. The Lionesses, therefore, are forced to build from deep.
34 min: The communication between England players is just not sticking, they are not on the same page when they get attacking ball. Whereas, Brazil look as though they can read each other’s minds.
32 min: Brazil have weathered all of this chaos well as they haven’t conceded and they come forward looking for their third and they win a corner. Yasmim takes it and the delivery is good with Dudinha taking a shot but it’s wide.
30 min: Russo gets a yellow card for a foul which isn’t well received by the home crowd as Isa Haas hits the deck. But England continue to try and press for their first goal of the evening, a pass to Russo has too much on it though.
28 min: Greenwood takes the corner but it’s immediately cleared, not the best set piece I’ve ever seen.
27 min: Lorena is okay to continue, which is a great sign. You never want a player going off injured. The disruption has not dimmed England’s momentum as they win a corner.
26 min: England have a fire under them now as they set an attack again, Mead finds Toone but her attempt goes just wide. Lorena is now down with injury, grasping her right thigh after slipping.
25 min: Greenwood takes the free kick and she smacks the bar, what a beauty of an attempt. It bounces back in front of goal but Carter can’t quite turn it goalward.
23 min: There was no need for her to make that challenge as Toone’s chance was nowhere near a sure goal and also Brazil are 2-0 up and were in complete control. This may give England a way back in as they are about to take a free kick.
Toone was threaded the ball and it was just her and the goalkeeper left. Angelina looks to have clipped Toone from behind and she has gone down, the referee immediately went to her pocket. There is VAR here but the Brazil captain has walked off and Lorena is now captain. A silly tackle to make.
RED CARD! England 0-2 Brazil (Angelina 21)
Denying a goal and the captain is gone.
20 min: Brazil have been impressive since the start of this game, so confident with the ball at their feet and not panicking when England come forward. A really calm and composed performance so far from this youthful team.
England lose it in the midfield and it’s passed to Dudinha, who hits the post and it rebounds in. This is far too easy for Brazil at the moment.
GOAL! England 0-2 Brazil (Dudinha 18)
That was a defensive mess.
17 min: Greenwood attempts a shot from far out as England continue to add pressure but Lorena reads it perfectly to collect.
16 min: A lovely move from England as they threaded it through the team. Stanway popped a great ball in but some amazing defensive work from Angelina sees it out for a corner. The set piece is well defended once again from the South Americans.
14 min: It is all Brazil at the moment with all of the momentum with the South American side as Angelina’s strike goes wide. Something I haven’t mentioned is that this is the first England game under Sarina Wiegman where she has not had assistant boss Arjan Veurink as he is now the Netherlands head coach.
12 min: It really is quite a show of the times we are in that I am now worried about the comments Keating might be getting on social media. Yes her position could have been better but the defensive structure also failed England.
Brazil crack England’s defence and Bia Zaneratto pops a beauty of a strike past Keating, the goalkeeper no way near close to saving it.
GOAL! England 0-1 Brazil (Bia Zanaratto, 10)
There it is.
9 min: Greenwood takes the free kick and it’s a good delivery, floated to the edge of the box but Brazil pounce and clear. Yasmim then wins a free kick for Brazil by the halfway line which they take quickly but it’s well defended by England’s Morgan.
8 min: Kelly pops a great cross into the box but no one is in position to receive it and Lorena again clears. Play runs through Brazil’s team and a cross is popped in but Keating plucks it out of the air. It’s all action as now England have won a free kick.
6 min: England try to hit back with an attacking threat of their own but the pass to Toone has too much on it and Lorena reads it well, who comes out and kicks it clear. Renditions of Sweet Caroline have already started at the Etihad, this may be an unpopular opinion but that song is so annoying.
4 min: Brazil have the first attacking platform but it ends with a handball outside of the box so England clear their lines. But it is not long until Brazil are back on the front foot and Ludmila gets in a great position but her attempt drags wide.
2 min: A good test for Keating today and it feels crazy to me that she is still only 21-years-old. She was incredible for Manchester City a few seasons ago, if she finds that form she will be a mainstay in goal for England for years to come. Hampton’s injury has presented the City star with an opportunity and Lionesses fans will be hoping she takes it with both hands.
Kick-off: England 0-0 Brazil
Here we go then. The Euros winners against the Copa America holders. This is set to be a thriller.
The players are emerging at the Etihad and the anthems will soon follow. All the action in this friendly to come in front a stacked crowd.
There is another name that is not be on the England team sheet today and that is the defender Millie Bright. She announced her international retirement before this camp. Read more about it here:
The Celebrity Traitors is a huge hit in the UK at the moment and it’s got me thinking who would be a good traitor in women’s football? I think Lucy Bronze would be good, of course she played the entire Euros without us knowing her leg was broken. What are your thoughts? Email me and let me know.
In another match which saw a goodbye to a legend, the USA lost 2-1 to Portugal. Have a read of the action:
There has also been a momentous game between Wales and Australia today. For Wales the legend Jess Fishlock played her final international match, while for the Matildas Sam Kerr returned after over 720 days. The result saw Australia come away with a 2-1 win, read all the action:
Our weekly newsletter Moving the Goalposts focused on Brazil in the latest edition, have a read to learn more about to expect from them this evening:
Here’s Brazil’s team news for this evening. They have gone with youthful talent, more on that shortly.
Brazil: Lorena, Mariza, Isa Haas, Tarciane, Yasmim, Angelina, Duda Sampaio, Luany, Ludmila, Dudinha, Bia Zaneratto.
Bench: Claudia, Carlinha, Thais Ferreira, Bruniniha, Thais S, Gutierres, Jheniffer, Calhau, Isabela, Ary Borges, Lais Estevam, Maranhao, Isa.
If Lucy Bronze comes off of the bench against Brazil she will become the out-in-out fourth most capped Lioness. She currently is tied with Alex Scott with 140 caps.
Maya Le Tissier starts after a lot of talk in the build-up saying she should be in the starting XV for England. Here’s Suzy Wrack’s take on the situation:
The team news is in. Maya Le Tissier starts for England, while Khiara Keating makes her England debut in goal.
England: Keating; Le Tissier, Greenwood, Walsh, Carter, Morgan, Mead, Stanway, Russo, Toone, Kelly.
Bench: Bronze, Moorhouse, Kendall, Charles, Beever-Jones, Agyemang, Kearns, Naz, Blindkilde-Brown, Baggaley, Fisk, Hinds
I am still on the hunt for the Brazil team news but as soon as I have it I will share it with you.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the international friendly between England and Brazil. The team news will drop soon but there are some stars we know to not be featuring for the Lionesses this evening.
The goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has stayed in England camp but has picked up a small elbow injury and so will not play this evening. Jess Park has withdrawn from camp because of a delayed concussion which has opened up an opportunity for Tottenham’s Jess Naz. Regular captain Leah Williamson is also out with a knee injury with Lauren Hemp and Lauren James also ruled out.
The last time the two nations played one another was in 2023 for the first Finalissma which England won on penalties at Wembley. Today’s game will take place at the Etihad, the first time the Lionesses have played there since 2005.
So keep your eyes peeled for Sarina Wiegman’s starting line-up and we will also bring you all you need to know prior to kick-off at 5.30 GMT.
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