As Brazil and England trot out for the first international at the new Wembley Stadium on Friday there will more than mere national pride at stake. Steve McLaren will be hoping to salvage what’s left of his reputation, David Beckham will be keen to prove his fans right and a string of young Brazilians will be vying to impress on an international stage.
While the likes of Kaka and Ronaldinho may have already secured permanent positions in the Brazilian line-up, and be enjoying Champions League football, the same is not so for the much of the squad. Take Afonso Alves for example; despite being Europe’s top scorer he is relatively unknown outside Holland, where he plays for Heerenveen.
Rumour has it that Alves will be on his way to Spain over the summer and a solid performance on Friday will almost certainly hurry things along. Failure to live up to his promise, either against England or Turkey (who Brazil play on Tuesday), could mean he misses out on a place at the Copa America.
Dunga has already revealed 33 names he wants to take to Venezuela for the tournament but will whittle that down to just 22 on Wednesday. Both Kaka and Ronaldinho have asked to be excused, pleading tiredness after long seasons.
Another player who’s transfer prospects may well be affected by the way things go on Friday is João Assis Silva, the striker better know as Jô. Alongside a handful of other Brazilians Jô currently plays for CSKA Moscow but has been linked with a £10m move to Sevilla.
Impressing the talent spotters is also likely to be on the minds of the two Brazilian based players, who like the rest of their country presumably see a move to Europe as a mark of true success. It is the first time Alex Silva has got the call up for the Selecão but the seventh time his fellow São Paulo defender Josué has made the squad.
English eyes may well be focused on PSV defender Alex and Sevilla right-winger Daniel Alves – both of whom have been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premiership.
Having won seven of the their nine games since the World Cup, to England’s three, Brazil enter the match as clear favourites but Steve Mclaren will hoping that the return of Beckham and the return to Wembley will provide a vital boost.
The Brazilian squad arrived in London this afternoon (Wednesday).
The suqad:
Doni (Roma), Helton (Porto), Daniel Alves (Sevilla), Maicon (Inter Milan), Gilberto (Hertha Berlin), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Juan (Bayer Leverkeusen), Alex (PSV), Alex Silva (Sao Paulo), Naldo (Werder Bremen), Gilberto Silva (Arsenal), Edmilson (Barcelona), Josue (Sao Paulo), Mineiro (Hertha Berlin), Elano (Shaktar Donetsk), Diego (Werder Bremen), Kaka (AC Milan), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Robinho (Real Madrid), Vagner Love (CSKA Moscow), Jo (CSKA Moscow), Alfonso Alves (Herenveen)
