Skip to content

Ruben Loftus-Cheek expected to retain England place against Brazil

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of England in action during the International friendly match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadi
Image: Ruben Loftus-Cheek is expected to retain his place in the side after a man-of-the-match performance against Germany

Gareth Southgate is expected to keep faith with youth for Tuesday night's friendly international against Brazil at Wembley.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is on loan at Crystal Palace, impressed on his senior debut against Germany on Friday and is likely to keep his place in the starting line-up.

It is also understood Leicester defender Harry Maguire will retain his place in the team against the five-time world champions while Ryan Bertrand, who came on as a substitute last week, is also expected to be handed a start.

Gareth Southgate watches on during England v Germany
Image: Gareth Southgate is expected to stick with a youthful side against Brazil

Marcus Rashford, who played for the last half an hour on Friday night, is believed to be in line to start up front alongside Jamie Vardy, while Southgate has also said he "will not hesitate" to throw youngsters Dominic Solanke, Lewis Cook and Angus Gunn into action.

Joe Hart will reclaim the goalkeeper's jersey at the expense of Jordan Pickford while Eric Dier continues as captain.

Southgate says the emergence of youth is creating "opportunities" rather selection headaches although he accepts opposition does not come any tougher than Brazil.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

England head coach Gareth Southgate is expected to keep faith with youth against Brazil but accepts they will be the toughest of opponents

Speaking ahead of the match Southgate said: "This Brazilian team are well down the road in terms of knowing what their best team is.

Also See:

"They have a clear way of playing, some outstanding individuals, immense physical presence, so it's a different sort of challenge for us as you'd expect.

"We are playing the best team in the world who've annihilated everybody in South American qualification which is the hardest way to the finals so we have to be spot on to have a chance of winning the game."

There is no shortage of familiar faces in Brazil's expected line-up with their biggest danger man Neymar one of three PSG players likely to start. England will also have to deal with two players they know well, Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus.

Brazil's Neymar gestures during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in La Paz on October 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / NELSON ALMEIDA
Image: Neymar is one of three PSG players expected to line up for Brazil against England

Expected line-ups:

England: Joe Hart; Gary Cahill, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker, Jake Livermore, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Eric Dier (captain), Ryan Bertrand, Marcus Rashford, Jamie Vardy

Brazil: Alisson (Roma), Dani Alves (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Paulinho (Barcelona), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Neymar (PSG)

Around Sky