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     v Portugal v Germany v Romania Qualifying    |
England 1 -v- 1 Brazil
England promised much but in the end delivered little as they warmed up for Euro 2000 with an honourable draw against Brazil at Wembley. Coach Kevin Keegan could take heart from an encouraging display by his side, especially in a first half that saw England create plenty of chances. But they conceded a soft equaliser seconds before the break, and the classy Brazilians were able to turn on some of their Samba style in the second half. One big plus-point for Keegan was the return to form and fitness of man of the match Michael Owen. Brazil went close to taking the lead in the first minute when a poor kick by David Seaman allowed Emerson to break through the England defence. He seemed to have the goal at his mercy but Paul Ince cleared the danger with a fine tackle. The game had started brightly, with both sides prepared to push men forward. England's first effort on goal came in the third minute when a free-kick found Martin Keown, whose header was easily saved by Nelson Dida. Brazil hit back with a lightning move down the right which ended with Marcos Cafu crossing, only for Rivaldo to blaze over the bar with a left-foot volley. The Brazilians were playing their usual neat football, but Ince, Dennis Wise and Paul Scholes worked hard in midfield to keep them at bay. And in David Beckham England had a powerful weapon around the Brazilian penalty area. Having seen one free-kick blast blocked, he crossed perfectly for Alan Shearer to power in a near-post header in the 15th minute. But it was straight at Dida who, for all Brazil's possession, was the busier of the two keepers in the first half. He was back in action after 21 minutes when England almost broke the deadlock. Scholes linked well with Wise who was given far too much space. He strode forward and hit a low shot from 20 yards that was heading for the corner before Dida dived to his right to turn the ball round the post. The England midfield were causing problems for the Brazilians, whose defence looked hesitant, especially in the air. England almost capitalised on that weakness after 24 minutes when a corner from the right resulted in an almighty goalmouth scramble that ended with Owen's effort being cleared off the line. Shearer also went close on the half hour after being set up by Scholes' neat flick. The Newcastle striker's low shot was saved by Dida, who was back in the thick of the action three minutes later when he just managed to beat Owen to a throughball. But there was no stopping a confident England side that deservedly took the lead in the 39th minute. A long throw-in exposed more slack marking in the Brazilian defence as Scholes and Shearer combined to set up Owen. The Liverpool striker had scored against Brazil as a schoolboy, and he repeated the dose with a sharp turn and strike into the far corner. England's defence had been untroubled throughout the first half, but they gave away a soft equaliser seconds before the break. Seaman was left stranded by a routine corner and Franca headed in at the far post, past mesmerised defender Gary Neville. It was a bitter blow to England after playing so well for the first 45 minutes, and the Brazilians were obviously buoyed in the opening minutes of the second half. Sol Campbell was penalised for a foul on the edge of his penalty area and Rivaldo fired the free-kick just over Seaman's bar. A sweeping Brazilian move resulted in Cafu firing wide when he would have done better to cross to the unmarked Amoroso. England responded with a brilliant 58th minute move that ended with Owen beating two defenders and shooting for the top left-hand corner. It was shades of his World Cup goal against Argentina, but this time Dida fisted the ball away to safety. Brazil were content to pass the ball around in midfield, where Ince looked to be struggling with a knock. He was replaced by Arsenal's Ray Parlour after 60 minutes. Brazil brought on Roberto Carlos at the same time, and he went close with a 30-yard free-kick in the 72nd minute. Franca went even closer three minutes later when Rivaldo's pass split an England defence that was becoming increasingly stretched. This time the striker curled his shot inches wide of Seaman's right-hand post. Keegan changed his strike partnership after 84 minutes with Robbie Fowler and Kevin Phillips coming on for Shearer and Owen, who looked back to full fitness after his hamstring trouble. England had rarely threatened in the second half, though Scholes created an opening three minutes from time. He went for goal instead of passing to the well-placed Parlour, who was later taken off with a knee injury. |
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