England fans' enthusiasm ahead of Euro 2024 has well and truly been curbed after their side put in a dismal performance against Brazil at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night. The Three Lions were facing Brazil for the first time in seven years and fans were excited about the prospect of England going toe-to-toe with the likes of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.
However, that excitement was quickly sucked out of them in a match that failed to live up to expectations. Brazil were marginally the better team throughout, and created the better chances while England failed to create anything of note throughout the 90 minutes.
Phil Foden, England's most in-form player this season alongside Harry Kane, failed to have a single touch in the box in a statistic that perhaps summarises how uninspiring this England team have become since their World Cup exit in Qatar 15 months ago.
One factor that has upset the fans the most about the performance on Saturday night is the fact that they weren't up against a vintage Brazil side. Neymar and Casemiro were unavailable, and their midfield three was made up of players from West Ham, Newcastle and Wolves.
England's starting midfield, meanwhile, featured players from Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid not to mention Man City's best player this season and European football's top scorer ahead of them.
Ultimately, Brazil won the match thanks to a goal from 17-year-old, Endrick in the 80th minute. It was a deserved goal and one that could spark a reaction from the England squad in their next friendly against Belgium on Tuesday.
Brazil lead at Wembley, and it's the teenager Endrick who's scored 🫣#ThreeLions | #ENGBRA | @AskNationwide pic.twitter.com/rNSWVYyFes
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) March 23, 2024
England fans respond to Brazil defeat
It's been an interesting week for England fans after the release of their new home kit sparked fury online from people who claim the new colourful badge on the back of the strip is disrespectful. A win against Brazil would have perhaps calmed everyone down but that hope is now out of the window.
The England fans have now seemingly had enough of Gareth Southgate with some even calling for him to go before the European Championships. One fan posted on social media:
“It’s a disgrace that Southgate is in charge of this team. The man is a loser and a coward and it’s a pitiful indictment on our FA that they are prepared to sacrifice this amazing collection of players to make sure that they have a spineless company man in charge.”
Another England fan added: “I don’t know who’s more to blame – Gareth Southgate for utilising terrible, backwards tactics and nullifying arguably the most talented international squad in the world. Or, the FA for sticking by this man for 8 years and counting.”
A third posted: “Only Southgate could make that much talent look so average. Give that squad to a proper coach and they’d sweep all aside.”