England

1-1

Brazil

Terry 68

Diego 90+2

International Friendly
8pm, Friday 1 June 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1



England are back home! In their first game at Wembley since September 2000 they drew 1-1 with Brazil thanks to a typically thunderous header from captain John Terry, and a late consolation through Diego.

England were moments away from their first victory over Brazil since 1990, also at Wembley, when a solitary Gary Lineker strike gave them the win. It was not to be, but in a friendly encounter that had passion and inventive football at its core there can be few arguments about the enjoyment.

John Terry made history when he headed past Helton to give Steve McClaren's side the lead, becoming the first England player to score at the new venue, with the assist coming inevitably from the returning David Beckham.

The former skipper received a rapturous applause as his name was read out by the announcer, and his first touches of the ball were greeted with great support from the capacity crowd at England's new home.

Joe Cole made the first impression on the Brazil defence as he attempted to go it alone from a quick counter. Picking the ball up from a dangerous Ronaldinho delivery, Cole was on his own up front and drove past Mineiro and then Gilberto Silva before being upended by Juan.

Beckham almost created an opener for the man who has scored against Brazil on England's previous two meetings. Michael Owen raced on to an incisely whipped through ball but missed the flight by inches. It was trademark a Beckham and Owen combination.

The opening quarter of an hour was marked by some periods of dominant yet ultimately placid Brazilian possession, punctuated by more threatening moments in the England's final third with Smith and Owen looking sharp.

After 20 minutes the Brazilian skipper Gilberto Silva had the ball in the net but the assistant referee ruled it out for offside. Straight from the restart Nicky Shorey almost provided England with an attacking outlet on the left flank as he drove to the byline and delivered a fine cross, but there was no one on the end of it.

On the half hour mark David Beckham almost provided a fitting finish to mark his return to Wembley. With Steven Gerrard tumbling over the outstretched leg of Gilberto Silva, Beckham had the opportunity to strike a trademark free-kick from 25 yards. The execution was sublime and had England's fans on their feet, but it missed the far post by inches.

After the interval Brazil found the urgency they had lacked in the first half, with Ronaldinho and Kaka becoming more determined in their attacking ambitions. Robinson was called into action just three minutes into the half as he pulled off a superb save from the Barca midfielder.

Ronaldinho's close range piledriver was made more difficult by a deflection of the boot of Jamie Carragher, but the Spurs stopper was equal to it. Moments later Kaka stretched Robinson again as Brazil exerted their influence in the final third of the pitch.

England conjured a spate of attacks on the hour mark and with 22 minutes remaining in the contest they drew first blood. From the former captain to the current skipper it was a goal that the Wembley crowd had come to see. David Beckham delivered a trademark free-kick and John Terry rose highest at the back post to put the Three Lions in front.

An assist from Beckham but the moment was Terry's; the first man to score in Steve McClaren's reign as England Head Coach became the first player to score for England at Wembley, and he enjoyed every minute of it.

Terry left the field to be replaced by Wes Brown as a precaution ahead of England's Euro 2008 qualifier with Estonia on Wednesday, but the home side continued to create opportunities to add to the scoreline.

Kieron Dyer's pace was a significant threat as Brazil pushed further upfield in an attempt to level the scores, with Michael Owen also finding more space as a result.

When the fourth official indicated the added time it seemed that England were headed for a victory at the first attempt in the new stadium, but Dunga's side had the final say.

The visitors' captain Gilberto Silva played a pinpoint cross over the head of Ledley King to find the awaiting Diego, and the substitute striker guided the ball into the far corner beyond the outstretched hands of Paul Robinson.

Although the game ended in a stalemate there was nothing stale about the homecoming of England to Wembley, and in the coming years this game will be remembered as the first of many enthralling home games for the Three Lions.

Teams:

England: 1 Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), 2 Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), 3 Nicky Shorey (Reading), 4 Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), 5 Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), 6 John Terry (Chelsea) (c) (12 Wes Brown (Manchester United) 73), 7 David Beckham (Real Madrid) (17 Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur) 77), 8 Frank Lampard (Chelsea) (16 Michael Carrick (Manchester United) 88) 9 Alan Smith (Manchester United) (19 Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United) 62), 10 Michael Owen (Newcastle United) (21 Peter Crouch (Liverpool) 82), 11 Joe Cole (Chelsea) (20 Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough) 62)

Substitutes: 13 Scott Carson (Liverpool), 14 Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), 15 Phil Neville (Everton), 18 David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), 22 Robert Green (West Ham), 23 Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur)

Brazil: 1 Helton, 4 Juan, 3 Naldo, 2 Daniel Alves ( 13 Maicon 65), 6 Gilberto, 8 Gilberto Silva (c), 5 Mineiro (17 Edmílson 62), 7 'Ronaldinho', 10 Kaká (21 Afonso Alves 71), 11 Robinho (20 Diego 74), 9 Vágner Love

Substitutes: 12 Doni, 15 Alex, 14 Alex Silva, 16 Marcelo, 18 Josué, 19 Elano Blumer, 22 Jô

Referee: Markus Merk

Attendance: 88,754