England face Brazil on Saturday for the 27th time in football history. The last time they played each other was nearly seven years ago, so we take a look at the England XI the last time they faced Brazil to see just how much has changed.
The England XI the Last Time They Faced Brazil in 2017
The pace of change in football has accelerated beyond comprehension, particularly in the last decade or so.
England’s fortunes throughout that period have been flipped on its head, with Gareth Southgate inheriting a squad and an institution on its knees after Sam Allardyce’s disgraced exit after one game in charge.
The difference in the general zeitgeist surrounding the England team is clear to see, with the fans now more connected with the players than in previous generations.
This is testament to Southgate’s overhaul, in which he has maximised the relationship between fan and player, but it also has a lot to do with a spellbinding core of young, world-class players making their way into the team.
As England prepare to take on Brazil this weekend for the first time in nearly seven years, it marks a suitable opportunity to look back at the early days of Southgate’s tenure, to see just how much has changed since.
GK – Joe Hart
RB – Kyle Walker
CB – Joe Gomez
CB – John Stones
CB – Harry Maguire
LB – Ryan Bertrand
CDM – Eric Dier
CM – Ruben Loftus-Cheek
CM – Jake Livermore
ST – Jamie Vardy
ST – Marcus Rashford
Just five players remain from 2017’s starting line-up in Southgate’s latest squad.
Eric Dier – who captained the Three Lions that day – is the only other name potentially knocking on the door to regain his spot.
How Has Gareth Southgate Changed England?
The England team of 2017 vs Brazil were preparing for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, just as this current team are preparing for the Euros this summer.
That following summer set in motion England’s most successful period since the 1990’s, and not many, if any, expected they’d go as far as they did. Southgate made a name for himself that year, bringing the nation together under the guise of football as they reached the last four of the World Cup.
Southgate achieved this feat – the first to do so in nearly three decades – with a fairly mediocre squad compared to the dazzling names at his disposal now.
Instead of a grating, antagonistic relationship with the national team, Southgate shielded his players from public scrutiny and reconnected the players and fans in one swift tournament.
How Have England Progressed Since?
The 2020 Euros would be a truly unforgettable summer.
The England squad was now brimming with genuine attacking inspiration, with Southgate ditching the five at the back and opting for the wing-backs to play further up the field to provide support.
As history would show, Southgate still remained conservative when it mattered most, despite Luke Shaw taking the lead against Italy in the opening minutes. This was followed by an excruciating watch for Three Lions fans, who witnessed the opposition grow into the game.
Criticism ensued, with many calling it the best possible chance to win a trophy since Italia ’90 – and it may prove to be the best chance England have in years to come.
England only managed to make the quarter-finals in the subsequent World Cup, but were unfortunate to meet fellow favourites France in the last eight.
Are England expected to win the Euros this summer?
The nation will unite once more this summer, in what is likely to be Southgate’s final tournament in charge – even if he manages to bring silverware back from Germany.
Some fans have already floated the idea of replacements; Jose Mourinho, Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klopp are all names in the mix.
Never has England has such depth, particularly further up the pitch, and as such they are strongly favoured alongside France to triumph in the summer.
Can he prove the doubters wrong? Can he bring it home and bring joy and pride to the nation or will it be another summer of despair for England?
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