Friendly: England 0-0 Brazil

Kyle Walker looks to close down Neymar in the first half

An inexperienced England side held a strong Brazil line-up to a creditable 0-0 draw in an international friendly at Wembley.

Gareth Southgate’s side went into the game on the back of a goalless draw with reigning world champions Germany on Friday, although the Three Lions boss made five changes to that XI.

But, while Brazil enjoyed the majority of possession, England remained resolute defensively and had almost as many efforts on target as their opponents.

And, while neither could find a goal on the night, Southgate will no doubt be pleased to see his side pick up two clean sheets against two teams who will be in contention to win next summer’s World Cup in Russia.

Brazil had the first attempt on target in the 12th minute when Gabriel Jesus got his head on the end of a Dani Alves cross from the right and his downward effort was gathered by Joe Hart low down to his left.

England’s first effort came in the 18th minute when Marcus Rashford tried his luck from 25 yards but it was straight down the throat of Alisson in the Brazil goal.

However, that proved to be as rare foray into the opposition’s half for England as Brazil took control of possession, albeit without really threatening Hart’s goal.

England were also hit by the loss of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who impressed on his first start in Friday’s draw against Germany, as he was forced to hobble off on 35 minutes after taking a kick.

Brazil went close two minutes into the second half when Neymar split the England defence with a lovely pass which ran through to Jesus, but Hart pulled off a fine save to thwart the Manchester City hitman.

Another City player, Fernandinho, who stepped off the bench midway through the second half, almost scored in the 76th minute when he won possession off Eric Dier and charged towards goal before hitting a right-foot strike from 25-yard which went wide via the outside of the post.

England’s first shot in anger after the break came when Dier tried his luck with a free-kick two minutes later, but he curled his right-foot effort well wide of Alisson’s far post from the left channel.

Ashley Young came on for his first England cap in four years and his first touch was to thwart Willian who burst into the area and seemed certain to break the deadlock with 10 minutes remaining.

The game continued to open up and Paulinho had an opportunity to put Brazil in front on 85 minutes but his angled effort from the right side of the area was diverted wide off Hart’s chest.

England almost snatched it in the 89th minute when Young’s cross from the left dropped to debutant Dominic Solanke at the back post but Alisson raced out to block his shot.