Comparing England and Brazil Starting XIs for the World Cup
Earlier this week, Brazilian footballing legend Pele declared England and Brazil as equal forces for this World Cup, but comparing the respective starting lineups of the two countries, is this true?
As per BBC Sport, the 73-year-old believes England "have the same chance" as his country of winning this summer's footballing main event.
The 92-cap Brazil international continued to claim that "England - like Brazil, Italy, France - have a reputation. We must be prepared for them. ... We have to respect England because they have the same chance as what we have."
With the tournament taking place on home soil and the current FIFA World Ranking placing them seven positions above England, few would fancy the chances of Roy Hodgson's Three Lions over those of Brazil.
In this slideshow, we will compare the respective likely starting lineups of the two national teams—taken from their most recent warm-up friendlies—and consider who would make it into a combined England/Brazil XI.
Brazil XI vs. Serbia (June 6): Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Marcelo; Paulinho, Luis Gustavo, Oscar; Hulk, Fred, Neymar
England XI vs. Honduras (June 7): Joe Hart; Glen Johnson, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines; Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Wayne Rooney; Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
These rankings will be based on club and international form, utilising statistics courtesy of Squawka and WhoScored.com.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
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Brazil’s Julio Cesar moved to MLS side Toronto FC from newly promoted QPR on a short-term loan deal in February.
Despite this downturn in competition, Cesar remains Luiz Felipe Scolari’s No. 1 goalkeeper; in this XI however, the 34-year-old misses out.
In seven MLS appearances, the former Inter man has kept two clean sheets, conceding on average 1.29 goals per game.
Comparatively, Roy Hodgson’s No. 1, Joe Hart kept 13 clean sheets in 31 Premier League appearances for Manchester City in 2013/14, with an average of 0.97 goals conceded per game.
The Brazil man does have great experience and a long-standing international pedigree, but 27-year-old Hart is in much better form going into this World Cup.
Right-Back: Dani Alves
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No contest here.
Liverpool’s Glen Johnson endured a miserable season of form throughout 2013/14, despite his side’s unexpected success.
Consistently poor touches, considerable lapses in concentration and an abject nature in the attacking third have belied the 29-year-old’s reputation as a classy modern full-back.
The former Portsmouth man has continued this poor form on international level in recent weeks, with Phil McNulty of BBC Sport claiming the defender “is fortunate that there seems to be no obvious alternative for Hodgson at right-back.”
Comparatively, Barcelona and Brazil right-back Dani Alves is one of the world’s finest right-sided defenders and despite his club’s disappointing season has continued to impress.
The 31-year-old made on average 1.2 successful dribbles per game in La Liga—the best of any Barcelona defender—whilst also making an exceptional average of three tackles per game.
Whilst Johnson is lucky to make it into his own country’s starting XI, Alves walks into this combined side.
Centre-Backs: Gary Cahill and Thiago Silva
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When it comes to centre-backs for this XI, the choice is very difficult.
Scolari often plumps for a defensive partnership of Thiago Silva and his soon-to-be PSG teammate David Luiz. per David Ornstein of BBC Sport, whereas Chelsea’s Gary Cahill and Everton’s Phil Jagielka are established as the Three Lions’ de facto starting centre-backs.
Silva is widely considered one of the world’s finest central defenders, and this season in Ligue 1 the 29-year-old has continued to impress. The former AC Milan man has been a brick wall, winning 64 percent of tackles and 73 percent of headed duels attempted, along with a passing accuracy of 93 percent.
Luiz had an erratic final season with Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, and his meagre 36 percent of tackles won perhaps explains why, with the Portuguese often favouring defensive solidity.
The 27-year-old was often kept out of the side by Englishman Cahill, who has formed a formidable partnership with John Terry under Mourinho.
The former Bolton man proved exceptional in the air, winning 69 percent of his attempted headed duels, and made 216 clearances over 30 league appearances.
Jagielka had a fair season with Everton but struggled with injury issues throughout the 2013/14 season, and Cahill’s form trumps the former Sheffield United man on this occasion.
Having usurped Luiz at club level, Cahill makes the XI in this combined England/Brazil line-up, as his no-nonsense style would complement the elegance of Silva’s game perfectly.
Left-Back: Leighton Baines
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There is little to choose between Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Everton’s Leighton Baines when it comes to the left-back position.
Both are exemplary modern full-backs, able to contribute to both the attacking and defensive thirds.
However, despite Marcelo’s recent Champions League success—scoring in the final to help despatch Atletico Madrid—the England man prevails in this XI.
The Brazilian scored one goal and made six assists in 28 La Liga appearances in 2013/14, winning 58 percent of tackles and 56 percent of take-ons attempted.
However, under Roberto Martinez, Baines has continued to impress at left-back, scoring five goals and making four assists in 32 Premier League appearances. Furthermore, he boasts a comparative rate of 60 percent of tackles and 55 percent of take-ons attempted.
Both are phenomenal choices on the left side of defence on their day, but Baines just edges this selection due to his attacking prowess.
Defensive Midfield: Steven Gerrard
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This season under Brendan Rodgers, England captain Steven Gerrard has reinvented his game. He will continue in his new role under Hodgson at the World Cup.
Taking notes from the success of adaptation artist Andrea Pirlo, the 34-year-old is now deployed in the "regista" role, often retreating between the centre-backs to retrieve the ball and dictate play.
This transition was achieved with great success, and the Reds legend scored 13 goals and made 13 assists in 34 Premier League appearances. The midfielder also contributed on average five defensive actions per game.
Comparatively, Scolari’s defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo endured a muted first season with Bundesliga side Wolfsburg.
The Brazilian—a more traditional, defensive-minded midfielder—scored four goals and made two assists in 29 league appearances.
However, the 26-year-old also seemingly contributed less than Gerrard defensively, making on average four defensive actions per game.
Gerrard will be central to the 66-year-old Hodgson’s game plan at this World Cup, whereas Gustavo is a more dispensable option for Brazil.
Central Midfield: Jordan Henderson
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Brazilian central midfielder Paulinho is a vital cog within Scolari’s samba machine. On his day, he is a complete link between attack and defence.
However, the 25-year-old struggled at times to assert himself in his first season in the Premier League with Spurs, scoring six goals and making two assists in 30 appearances.
The Lilywhites’ No. 8 made on average 2.2 tackles per game and 0.7 key passes per game.
Whilst Paulinho may grow into the pace of the Premier League in the coming seasons, 2013/14 was the season in which Jordan Henderson blossomed at Liverpool.
The 23-year-old established himself as a key player under Brendan Rodgers, scoring four goals and making seven assists in 35 league appearances. The former Sunderland man dwarfs the contribution of Paulinho in terms of both tackles (2.4) and key passes (1.7) per game.
However, it is in a relentless pressing game that the midfielder has flourished, becoming indispensable for both Rodgers and Hodgson for Liverpool and England, respectively. This will be crucial, particularly in the heat of Manaus.
Henderson, a previously maligned figure, is a more wholly effective central-midfield player than Paulinho and thus makes this XI with ease.
Attacking Midfield: Oscar
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The comparison between Chelsea’s Oscar and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney is a difficult one to make, with both players adopting a completely different playing style.
Often deployed as a No. 10 for England behind striker Daniel Sturridge, Rooney seemingly struggles with the pace of the game and has often failed to assert himself on proceedings of late.
Former United teammate Paul Scholes recently questioned whether “Wayne's peak may have been a lot younger than what we'd expect of footballers traditionally,” per BBC Sport.
In contrast, Oscar is just beginning to develop completely at Chelsea and has established himself as a starter for Brazil in the No. 10 position at the age of 22.
To make this decision it is crucial to consider international form, especially due to Rooney’s ineffective nature for England of late. Despite scoring 17 goals in 29 Premier League appearances for United in 2013/14, there is an increasing belief that Rooney’s playing style jars with that of Hodgson’s England.
Meanwhile, the intricate play of Oscar has made the midfielder a key player for Scolari, and for this reason the former Internacional man makes the cut in this XI.
Right-Winger: Hulk
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Southampton's Adam Lallana has enjoyed another impressive season in the Premier League, garnering interest from Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool, per BBC Sport.
However, comparing the former Bournemouth man to Brazil's Hulk in the right-wing position belies Lallana's success in 2013/14.
Whilst the 26-year-old proved himself crucial in Mauricio Pochettino's system, his nine goals and six assists in 38 league appearances is scant contribution compared to that of the Brazil man.
At Zenit St Petersburg, Brazil's No. 7 created the same amount of goals as Lallana but scored 17, becoming a key player for both club manager Andre Villas Boas and Scolari.
Hulk is a devastating attacking option the Selecao and as such makes it into this XI over Lallana.
Striker: Daniel Sturridge
9 of 11The contest for starting striker in this XI is a hotly contested one, but England's Daniel Sturridge just edges this encounter over his Brazilian counterpart Fred.
Playing the straight man to Neymar, Fred will likely to be an underrated figure at this summer's World Cup.
Jonathan Watts of The Guardian claims that "Fred has thrived since Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as manager of the national team. He was joint top scorer in the Confederations Cup last year when his five goals played a major role in Brazil’s victory."
Watts describes Fred's role as "a forward in the British mode – aerial power and physical presence."
The 30-year-old's contribution within Scolari's side is undoubted, but the form of Sturridge for both Liverpool and England is unavoidable.
The 24-year-old scored 21 goals in 29 Premier League appearances in 2013/14 and followed this club form up with an exceptional finish for England against Peru in the Three Lions' recent warm-up friendly.
The Reds' striker will spearhead Hodgson's attack this summer and makes this XI on sheer form.
Left-Winger: Neymar
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Comparing the attacking talents of Neymar with that of England's Danny Welbeck in the left-wing position is almost a risible situation.
However, the Manchester United man is a dependable option for the Three Lions and will likely start for Hodgson's men throughout the World Cup.
Furthermore, the 23-year-old scored nine goals in 25 Premier League appearances throughout 2013/14, the same number as Neymar managed for Barcelona.
However, the 22-year-old Brazilian contributed eight assists for the La Liga side last season, dwarfing Welbeck's meagre attempt by seven.
Pele told The Times of India (h/t Goal.com) that Neymar "has the ability to carry the team on his shoulders like he did during the Confederations Cup. The boy is a genius."
Neymar has a knack for delivering on the big stage, as evidenced by his side's Confederations Cup success, and for this reason—among others—the Brazilian makes the cut over Welbeck.
The Verdict
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Surprisingly, Roy Hodgson's England XI comes out on top in this combined side, with six selections over five for the Brazilians.
Individually, the 66-year-old has a pool of talent that is able to contend with the world's best.
However, despite Pele's assertion that the two countries are equal, this belies the potential success of Scolari's men this summer.
Options such as Dante, Hernanes and Willian on the bench currently dwarf that of Phil Jones, Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at this current juncture.
Furthermore, home-field advantage should play a big part in Brazil's World Cup success this summer, while the heat will particularly affect the performances of England.
Comparatively, England's starting XI may just edge it position-by-position, but Pele would be a fool to expect the Three Lions to triumph over his nation at the World Cup.
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