Jermain Defoe has admitted he hopes to emulate John Barnes’ famous performance at the Maracanã when England face Brazil on Sunday.
Barnes scored a wonder-goal against the five-time world champions at the famous stadium in 1984, after dribbling from inside his own half.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Defoe has confessed that he dreams of such a moment during the upcoming friendly.
The 30-year-old told the Daily Mirror: “That was an unbelievable goal.
“The fact that we’re still talking about it nearly 30 years later tells you how good a goal it was.
“Who knows? Maybe one of us can score one like it on Sunday. If you can score a goal like that against them, make that sort of impact, it will be talked about for ever.
“If there is a single team in international football you’d want to play against it’s Brazil – even more so in Rio.”
Defoe, who is struggling with an Achilles injury ahead of the game, would become only the 19th player to score 20 goals for the Three Lions if he finds the net against the Seleção, joining the likes of Geoff Hurst, Alan Shearer and Nat Lofthouse.
“If I can get that goal and get to 20, it will be a great feeling,” he added. “I know that there are only so many strikers who’ve done it, so to join them would be a big feeling for me and a big achievement.”
Source: Goal.com
