Are England good enough to win the World Cup?
I must say that watching England last night was an enjoyable experience, I'm not a great fan of friendlies but I have to admit as a football fan that when Brazil play most of the time they are worth watching. The South Americans seem to have so much talent coming through year after year it's scary!
I'll admit when the penalty was given I was surprised, it was hardly deliberate handball and well done to Joe Hart on a tremendous save and to me justice was done. Wayne Rooney took his and England's goal well but I have to say with all the midfield talent on show that Arsenal's Jack Wilshere impresed me a hell of a lot. Unlike some players who'd let the fact they were playing the mighty Brazil faze them, the twenty one year old Stevenage born player never let the occasion get to him and didn't stop working hard and has a great future ahead of him on the international scene.
Even when the Brazilians made the game all square the England team didn't panic! I've seen England sides in the past fold like a pack of cards but Roy Hodgson has got a group of players with both youth and experience on their side. I have to say it sounded very much like a party atmosphere and may I congratulate the Football Association on being one hundred and fifty years old!
When Frank Lampard scored the winner it was no more than England and all the fans in the stadium deserved; if the same goal was scored by a Brazilian then it would have made world headlines. The fans made it a party and even the England fans were seen doing the conga, may I add with the Brazilians fans just the way football should be!
The question then is can England go to Rio and win the biggest prize in world football?
We have to remember that this was only a friendly but if they can maintain the standard that they showed at Wembley I think other teams will find it hard to beat them! To win it is a huge ask but I think they have as good a chance as any of the other top footballing nations.