by Jude Bellingham was a sight Wembley was getting used to. Leaning forward, the ball almost hanging from his outstretched toes, dynamic yet in perfect balance. Then came Brazil. The beautiful game? Bonito game? Not tonight. Instead, hit the tactical lie: Bellingham’s image was seriously knocked on its back during this 1-0 win.
Brazil refused to treat Wembley to a repeat of Bellingham’s peerless display against Italy last October – a night of fear and youth that had England dreaming of something special come the Euros this summer . Brazil recognized that this England had a true star in its core: Galactico who should be involved with them along with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. But when winger Endrick scored the winning goal at the end of a Wembley friendly that went astray but failed to make a splutter, Bellingham, his future Real Madrid team-mate, was already on the bench own. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest it was a field goal.
It was that kind of night, highlighted early. The arc that Bellingham was shaping to get the ball was a warning sign for Brazil – it signaled a threat that needed to be dealt with. At one point during the first half, center back Lucas Beraldo jumped from his defensive tackle to clatter into the back of Bellingham’s legs. Another foul in midfield looked like tactical variation: a game plan from the injury-depleted visitors that lacked subtlety but was effective. With 21 goals and 11 assists in 34 games for England and Real Madrid this season, few teams have been able to slow down Bellingham and limit his threat. But Brazil succeeded here.
Which in fairness, takes some doing. Bellingham is able to drive through contact and maintain his elegant stride despite the kicks and nibbles on his ankles, turn smoothly, curl through challenges, and stay with the ball at his feet. Brazil, under the guidance of the old school Dorival Junior, the latest occupant of the head coach of the Selecao, managed to get rid of their series of betrayals on Bellingham, although it was rotation that probably brought the latter. warning to West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta, if the match was competitive in name and nature.
Bellingham was in the ear of Portuguese referee Artur Ribeiro Soares Dias as the players returned to their dressing rooms at half-time, no doubt as a result of the rough treatment he received in 45 grueling minutes. He did not improve after the interval and was replaced by Bellingham midway through the second half, having gone down with a cramp in the Brazilian box following a late run to the back post. As Harry Kane also watched, injured, he left England without either of the two pillars, the two best abroad this season in Munich and Madrid, which will be crucial if Southgate to lead England to Euro glory this summer.
That in itself was a warning, as England suffered their first defeat since the World Cup quarter-final against France in Qatar. Bellingham, despite its status, and aura that the Brazilian fans in the corner of Wembley seemed to have taken in, still only 20. Even with Kane leading the line, and able to absorb some of the attention and blows, this is Bellingham’s team. But this was a night to show that England and Southgate now need a plan as they target their opponents at the Euros in Bellingham, through rough treatment or otherwise. If Brazil manage to pull it off, there won’t be any side in Germany next summer who won’t try to do the same.
Typically, against Brazil, England needed others to step up. Phil Foden, who is enjoying the best season of his career at Manchester City, carried a renewed swagger early on but faded. Anthony Gordon and Ollie Watkins had their moments but seemed to regress in Bellingham, struggling to act with the precision and accuracy needed without Kane or Bukayo Saka. Of course, restoring those absences to a starting lineup that includes Bellingham and Foden eases the load. Perhaps the truth was that tonight, Southgate only learned something new from those who are unlikely to start anyway.
This was not old Brazil – Joelinton was injured, after all – but the inexperienced lineup named by Dorival managed to crack something under the surface of England. They did so while still sparkling with flashes: with the touch from Paqueta, the bursts from Vinicius Jr, and the obscurity of Rodrygo was all a delight. England have been fine at Wembley for the most part and are still excited by the fact that they now have their own star who can send those same bits through the crowd when he gets on the ball. Brazil, however, did not want to hear it. And in victory, they succeeded.
