It was a night of good unadulterated Football. What else would you expect of a friendly between The Three Lions and the Canarinhos (Brazil) -a team that for years have brought life to the International rendition of the game?
England took victory over the South Americans, marking the FA’s 150th Anniversary (watch The Ox’s quick fire look at football through the ages) with their first win over the five-times world Champions and hosts to the 2014, in 23 years.
It was Wayne Rooney who scored the first goal having caught the rebound off Gunners star, Theo Walcott, who came daringly close to scoring the opener. Brazil pulled one back through Fred, at which point they would have been in the lead by two goals to one if it were not for Harts’ magnificent save from a penalty taken by Ronaldhino. Frank Lampard scored the second goal with a neat curler from just outside the penalty area.
The goals were enough to hold England for the win, but it was not the scoreline that made the most noise in the post match reviews. Jack Wilshere has been the spotlight of most of the speculation after the game, for he indeed was key to Englands’ victory last night. The rambunctious character of which the away team could not withstand was even labelled by some as, “More Brazilian then the Brazilians”. I think that says it all.
© Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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