by England host Brazil on Saturday in the first of two Euro 2024 friendlies during this international window, as Gareth Southgate moves a step closer to naming his squad for the tournament.
Ahead of the game, Tottenham forward Richarlison spoke of the benefits of seeing a therapist and welcomed the Brazilian’s decision to add a squad psychologist to the senior team.
The second friendly is against Belgium three days later.
These games are a chance for Southgate to try out before he chooses his final 23-man squad to fly to Germany for the start of the European Championships on June 14.
When do England play Brazil?
Saturday, March 23.
What time does England vs Brazil start?
Kick-off will be at 7pm (GMT).
Where is the game taking place?
The two sides will meet at Wembley, the home of English football.
What channel is on the TV?
The game will be shown live on Channel 4, with coverage starting at 6pm.
Or you can follow all the action via our live blog, with commentary and analysis from our team of reporters on the ground.
What is the latest news?
Joe Gomez has insisted he is looking forward to playing for England again after wowing his own fans when he last played international football in front of a Wembley crowd.
The Liverpool defender, 26, is back in Gareth Southgate’s squad after four years out and has discussed the psychological toll of returning to St George’s training ground after his “knee straight up my leg” injury left the last time he was in England. duty.
Gomez was in Southgate’s squad for internationals behind closed doors in 2020 following the Covid-19 pandemic but had his last game in front of his supporters, against Montenegro, where he was ruled out after a training clash in which he collapsed Raheem Sterling for the game.
“He was testing. You never want that to happen in front of your own crowd. It was a situation that moved me for a long time [from],” Gomez said. “I’m looking forward to getting back in front of the fans and playing.
I understood. I didn’t delve too deep into it or let myself eat too much. I understood. It wasn’t great, obviously I’d be lying [if I said otherwise].”
Gomez has forced his way back into Southgate’s squad this season with his performances in Liverpool’s back line, giving the England manager choice for the European Championship in the summer.
His first training session this week was on the pitch where he suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out for nine months and he feared he would never reach the same level of football again.
England squad to face Brazil and Belgium
Goalkeeper: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defendants: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (City of Manchester)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forward: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) Phil Foden (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney ( Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
England vs Brazil head-to-head
The last time these two sides met in a competitive match was the 2002 World Cup quarter-final, with Brazil winning 2-1 courtesy of a Ronaldinho free-kick.
Predictions
England should have enough quality to deal with a new-look Brazil side, who are a tough fix.
England to win: 2-0
Odds match
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England to win: 10/11
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Brazil to win: 10/3
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Draw: 11/4
Correct choice from 19 March
Look at the Euro 2024 betting offers and free bets
Richarlison: I was at rock bottom – therapy saved my life
Richarlison, the Brazil and Tottenham forward, said the therapy “saved his life” after he sought psychological help last year.
Richarlison said he hit “rock bottom” after a turbulent time on and off the field in 2023, and has now encouraged other players to seek mental support.
Brazil’s national team have added a psychologist to their senior set-up for the first time, ahead of their friendlies against England and Spain.
Richarlison, who would reach 50 international caps if he plays in those two games, said: “It’s very important that the national team has a psychologist to help the players.
“We only know the pressure we are under, not only on the pitch but off it. I suffered even more outside. It is important to have a psychologist.
“We know the hurt when someone says they’re looking for help. I had it myself, but I don’t have it anymore.
“As a national team player with an active voice, I tell people to get help because it saved my life. I was already at rock bottom.”
Richarlison said in September that he would seek psychological help after being seen in tears during a match against Bolivia. He hinted that problems off the field were behind his feelings, saying that “people close to me” had created problems.
Richarlison has also had a difficult time on the pitch, struggling to find any consistency in his performances for Spurs following his £60million move from Everton in July 2022.
However, since surgery on a groin problem in November, he has regained his form. In his last 13 games in all competitions, Richarlison has scored nine goals.
“I went through three months of difficulties, with pain in my mouth,” he said. “Thank God, I had the operation and it went well. I worked hard and returned earlier than expected. I feel 100 percent.
“I’m back in the Premier League, helping my club. A few months ago, when I didn’t get a call to the national team, I said I will return. I worked hard during those days. I’m happy, and I managed to change things.”
