It’s that man again. A Brazilian team crammed with Chelsea’s finest, and who arrived to score England’s winning goal? Altogether now: super, super Frank...
Oh, you’ve got to love him. It must be driving his employer mad now, the way Frank Lampard contrives to embarrass the haters, doubters and non-contract-offerers at every turn. But it is too late now. After so much inexplicable stubbornness it would look ridiculous if Chelsea’s management recanted and signed him up for another year.
England manager Roy Hodgson will not be so foolhardy. As was demonstrated on Wednesday night, he recognises that Lampard is worth his place in the squad even if he does not start. If his role is to be England’s impact substitute, then it could still prove a fitting finale
Would anyone bet against Lampard delivering the winner in a crucial game, as he did in this prestige friendly? Like all greats — and he is a great — he seems to write his own scripts.
The first half demonstrated why Lampard’s place in the team is no longer guaranteed, the second why to jettison him entirely is unthinkable.
The partnership of Jack Wilshere and Steven Gerrard in the heart of midfield was among the true successes of the night. Introducing Lampard, Hodgson wisely kept the pairing together. Tom Cleverley made way, meaning Lampard had a more forward role, and he took full advantage.
It took a classic Lampard strike to beat Julio Cesar in Brazil’s goal and, let’s face it, little else looked likely to. Cesar has been in outstanding form for Queens Park Rangers of late and it continued last night. England were struggling to cope with a revived Brazil in the second half when Lampard struck.
Credit to Theo Walcott, too, because it was his run that set up the opportunity, his cross cut out by Arouca, who tried to find Paulinho but succeeded only in playing in Wayne Rooney. His sly ball teed up Lam-pard on the edge of the area for a right-foot shot of composed precision. It is a remarkable attribute to be able to shoot at first sight with such accuracy, the earliness of the attempt catching Cesar cold as the ball clipped the inside of his post before crossing the line.
Lampard wheeled away and sprung into the air in celebration, for one moment a teenager again. Scoring against Brazil can do that to a man. In the ascendancy, England players, old and young, looked very sprightly. Never more so than in a first half when Wilshere was at the heart of all that was good about England. A great ball to put Danny Welbeck in after 22 minutes, a lovely reverse pass that deserved better.
It was Wilshere who set up Walcott after 27 minutes, too, Cesar saving bravely at his feet, only for the ball to rebound to Rooney, whose low shot for his 33rd international goal was fair reward for a very strong display.
Brazil reappeared after half-time with renewed purpose, however. Having come close through Neymar at the far post at the end of the first half, the warning signs were there. Gary Cahill did not heed them and paid the price. Attempting to bring the ball out from the back, he overran it horribly, was tackled by Luis Fabiano and Fred fired home the equaliser.
Minutes later, Fred hit the bar and for a moment it looked as if England had lost their way. Enter Lampard. Whatever the future holds, he would be mad to sell himself short with a move to football’s backwaters. America and China can surely wait. Having got Brazil so expertly in his sights, Lampard can surely aim a little higher.
As can England, now Wilshere is back. It would not be overstating the fact to say he was the difference. Just about everything that was positive in England’s play came through him, the response of the Brazilians suggesting recognition of a kindred spirit. Early in the game, Wilshere went into a challenge with Oscar on the touchline. Ball and man safely dispatched, Oscar patted his cheek on rising, with affection. No hard feelings.
They know a player in Brazil and they know Wilshere would fit quite snugly in that famous yellow shirt. He performed like a man who was born for this stage; for these opponents; and for this arena.
England have missed him, and Wembley, too. He has not played here since June 2011 against Switzerland, and this was his first start under Hodgson. Instantly, there was more hope for the fixture with Montenegro next month.
San Marino should look after itself but drop points in Podgorica and England’s place at the World Cup finals is vulnerable. Yet what was considered a tricky fixture will be approached with greater optimism now Wilshere is back in the team. He might not get the same room as he did at Wembley with a Montenegrin team feeding on the inspiration of a mighty upset, but players like Wilshere make room, they find space, they operate with antennae tuned unlike the rest.
Gerrard’s tribute to his young team-mate on the eve of the game could be viewed as the usual unhelpful hype around a rising England star, had it not carried such a ring of truth. We have heard these rave reviews before, about Rooney, about Joe Cole, but Wilshere justified the appreciation.
Had he been up against England, there would be an inquest. Why can’t we produce players like that? There is always scepticism about success against Brazil in friendlies. Are they trying, are they freezing, how different will they be on home soil in the World Cup in 18 months?
These are valid lines of enquiry. Watching Brazil train in what looked bizarrely like blue onesies on Tuesday, one suspected a bitter February night might play havoc with their equilibrium, particularly in a non-competitive fixture.
Yet many of their team play in Europe — three of the starting outfield players are on Chelsea’s staff — and we never make these faint-hearted excuses when England lose a friendly. Defeated by Australia at home in February 10 years ago, nobody said England weren’t trying. They said it was the end of the world.
The one stroke of luck came in the 18th minute, when Brazil missed a penalty. Ronaldinho attempted a cross, Wilshere flinched trying to block but hung out a trailing arm which stopped the ball. Up stepped Ronaldinho, on the occasion of his 100th cap, and was foiled by Joe Hart. Twice, considering he also reacted quicker to the loose ball. Nice one, centurion.
The standard blast of ‘Football’s Coming Home’ added to the air of triumphalism at the close, but nobody with any sense is getting carried away. In the last 12 months, England have drawn with France, beaten Spain and now Brazil.
Yet if these results offered definitive proof of excellence, there would not be such trepidation about the visit to Montenegro. This was a work of progress, but England are a work in progress, too. As strange as if may seem, there will be more exacting tests than Brazil before the season is out.
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