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14 Established 1961 Sports Thursday, November 16, 2017 Makeshift England frustrate Brazil in 0-0 Wembley draw Alves involved in a spat with Jake Livermore LONDON: Toothless Brazil flattered to deceive as the it. Tonight we just showed resilience, guts and some five-times world champions were held to frustrating 0- outstanding defending.” 0 draw by a makeshift England side in a disappointing friendly at Wembley on Tuesday. Brazil manager Tite BALL-WATCHING fielded all of his big guns, including the world’s most With Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho expensive player Neymar, but despite the samba- in a Brazil starting lineup packed with experience and rhythm that beat out from their 5,000 fans, the men in quality, the match had the potential to be a torrid the famous yellow shirts failed to light up a cold night. evening for England. The hosts spent most of the match England manager Gareth Southgate probably watching the ball being pinged around, although for all learned more about some of his fringe players who, as Brazil’s intricate patterns the visitors were disappoint- they did in a goalless draw with world champions ing in the final third of the pitch where Neymar and Germany last week, defended with great discipline, Jesus barely had a sight of goal. even if the hosts offered little in attack. England keeper Hart, earning his 75th cap, enjoyed a Brazil cruised through South American qualifying to quieter evening than he could possibly have imagined. reach next year’s World Cup, “I thought the defensive and had won 13 of their 16 backline were phenomenal,” matches since Tite took over, he said.
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