England vs Brazil friendly – predictions, kick-off and where to watch
England are back in action this weekend as Southgate’s men face Brazil in a friendly at Wembley Stadium – one of two matches left before Gareth Southgate names his Euro 2024 squad.
Two of England’s star players – Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka have already been ruled out with injuries, with Saka withdrawing from the camp and heading back to Arsenal.
England vs Brazil: How to watch
This international friendly takes place on Saturday, March 23 with kick-off at Wembley scheduled for the slightly earlier time of 7 pm.
The game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Channel 4 with coverage beginning at 6 pm.
Match Preview
It’s been three years since hearts were broken at Wembley when Italy beat the Three Lions on penalties to claim the Euro champions title. But this current crop of players is a bit of a golden generation – who have had time to find their feet – and could easily go on to win the Euros later this year in Germany.
Southgate’s men only dropped four points en route to a first-place finish in their Euro 2024 qualifying section.
England have also had two victories over Italy since then – but have also suffered a few shocks, including draws with Ukraine and North Macedonia.
England’s Group C is a relatively kind one – featuring Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia.
But before then, they have four friendlies booked in for 2024, the second of which sees Belgium make the trek to Wembley three days after Brazil’s stopover.
Iceland and Bosnia-Herzegovina will represent England’s final pre-Euro 2024 tests in June before the world’s third-ranked nation board the plane to Germany, and Southgate’s men host Brazil on a 10-match unbeaten run since their World Cup 2022 campaign ended at the hands of France, or the head of Olivier Giroud to be more precise.
Whilst England went through 2023 without a single defeat, Brazil have had a poor start. They will arrive in London on a three-game losing run in qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
England team news
Manchester United’s midfield protege Kobbie Mainoo could get his first senior cap this weekend after being promoted to the first-team ranks by Southgate.
Jarrad Branthwaite, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa also have aspirations of donning the England strip for the first time at senior level, but Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Jack Grealish, Luke Shaw and Kalvin Phillips are all missing.
Harry Kane was one of four players to miss team training on Wednesday – a list which also includes Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer and Jordan Henderson – and the Arsenal man has now withdrawn from the squad for the current international window.
Brazil team news
Brazil have also been dealt a fitness blow this month, as all of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ederson, Marquinhos and Casemiro have withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
With Alisson Becker also out of contention due to his thigh issue, Junior is working with three uncapped goalkeepers in Leo Jardim, Bento and Rafael, one of whom will therefore make their first-team Brazil debuts at Wembley this weekend.
England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Gomez; Foden, Rice, Bellingham; Bowen, Watkins, Rashford
Brazil possible starting lineup:
Bento; Danilo, Bremer, Beraldo, Wendell; Guimaraes, Luiz; Raphinha, Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr; Richarlison
England vs Brazil predictions
England 3-1 Brazil
Brazil have been hit with a lot of injuries and will have to play a group of relatively unknown players already on a poor run of form. In front of a packed-out Wembley it might prove to be an uphill battle.
But England also have their own fitness troubles and will also likely sent out some newly-capped players. They’ve never lost a home friendly under Southgate and will no doubt be looking to take advantage of an inexperienced Brazil back line.