March 27 – As the international break draws to a close and players return to club football for the business end of the season, national sides tested the waters across a host of international friendlies that could send shockwaves across the next FIFA World Rankings update in April.
March’s round of fixtures also presented the opportunity for Nike and Adidas to model their new kits ahead of the Summer tournaments.
England christened their controversial new home shirt (Nike changed the colours of the England flag) with the first loss at Wembley in three years as manager Gareth Southgate came under fire yet again for his team’s ‘boring’ style of play, before scraping to a last-minute draw with Belgium courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s 95th minute equaliser three days later.
With both Brazil and Belgium accompanying England inside the top five nations of the FIFA world rankings, the results could spark some movement amongst the big boys ahead of the next update in April.
Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans secured an impressive brace in front of the Wembley crowd, capitalising on Jordan Pickford’s clumsy goal kick early in the match before producing a flying header finish to convert Romelu Lukaku’s trivela cross in style.
In the match versus Brazil, future Real Madrid star Endrick (pictured) scored the only goal of the game, becoming the youngest Brazilian goalscorer since Ronaldo in the process.
The absence of England Captain Harry Kane was clear to see as Southgate’s side failed to capitalise on their chances across both matches, lining up against a heavily rotated defensive partnerships on both occasions.
Elsewhere, the Germans hit good form heading into this Summer’s European Championships on home soil by beating France away from home this weekend, followed by a late victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Beating second-ranked France 2-0, goals came from Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, with Wirtz having put his…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/03/27/england-flagging-germany-find-form-brazil-put-style-argentina-cruise-control/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-03-27 14:45:30
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