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Seventeen-year-old prodigy Endrick has scored his first goal for Brazil to give the struggling South Americans a 1-0 win over England at Wembley in coach Dorival Junior’s first match in charge.
Substitute Endrick, who is due to join Real Madrid from Palmeiras, struck in the 80th minute when he tapped into an empty net after England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could only parry a shot from Vinicius Jr.
The goal meant he became the youngest male player – at 17 years and 246 days – to score an international goal at Wembley.
“It’s a unique feeling. I’m still processing it,” Endrick told Brazil’s Globo television. “I’m not much of a crier, I’m holding back, but it’s something unique and I’m very happy.”
The South Americans, who have struggled in their World Cup qualifiers and gave debuts to five players in their starting 11 due to injuries to key players, created most of the best chances including Lucas Paqueta hitting the post in the 35th minute.
England, themselves missing captain Harry Kane and other regulars, barely tested Bento who was making his first appearance for Brazil in goal, despite coach Gareth Southgate opting for an attacking line-up as he prepared for Euro 2024.
Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins, leading the attack in Kane’s absence, struggled to make an impact and England’s best opportunities fell to Anthony Gordon of Newcastle United.
The match appeared to be heading for a stalemate until Endrick’s breakthrough. The teenager came close to scoring again in the dying seconds when he was through on goal but Pickford saved with his feet.
Endrick celebrates his goal. (Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Real trumped other top clubs, including Paris St Germain, Chelsea, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United, who were chasing the young Brazilian before he signed a deal with the Spanish side in late 2022 which will see him move to Madrid in July.
Southgate said “it was a brilliant moment” for Endrick but noted his defenders had failed to deal with the danger.
He said he was happy with his team’s performance overall, especially from the players who stepped up to replace England’s more regular starters.
“The difference in the end was one moment really, and that is the ruthlessness of football at this level,” Southgate told reporters.
Asked about Kane’s injury, the England coach said he would not recover in time for Tuesday’s friendly against Belgium at Wembley.
Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz opened the scoring after just seven seconds for Germany in a 2-0 friendly international win for the Euro 2024 hosts over France in Lyon.
Bayer Leverkusen winger Wirtz crashed in a 20-metre effort when the ball was played upfield from kick-off.
Arsenal midfielder Kai Havertz slotted in from close range early in the second half on Saturday as Julian Nagelsmann’s side inflicted another defeat on Les Bleus, having also won a friendly in Dortmund in September.
Austria also made a fast start to their game in Slovakia, scoring after only six seconds in a 2-0 win in Bratislava.
RB Leipzig forward Christoph Baumgartner fired Austria in front following a driving run and low shot straight from kick-off.
Andreas Weimann added a late second for Austria, who will be in Group D with France and the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
The Republic of Ireland battled to a 0-0 draw with Belgium at the Aviva Stadium in a first game for interim manager John O’Shea.
Brighton forward Evan Ferguson saw a first-half penalty saved by Belgium goalkeeper Matz Sels.
Belgium – without Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne – almost snatched a late winner when a low shot from substitute Thomas Meunier was pushed around the post by Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
It also finished goalless between Denmark and Switzerland at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
Croatia beat Tunisia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes in Cairo, where they are playing in a four-team friendly tournament also involving hosts Egypt and New Zealand.
© AAP
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