Brazil visit Wembley tonight and England fans will be expecting to see the likes of Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta, but may be a little confused by the goalkeeping situation.
This game will give England a great test ahead of Euro 2024.
Yes, Brazil are without the likes of Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Eder Militao, Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar, taking some of the top talents in the world out of the mix.
Brazil still have quality players on show though and a handful of them have Premier League experience.
Paqueta and Guimaraes lead the way alongside Danilo, Douglas Luiz, Andreas Pereira, Joao Gomes, Richarlison, Raphinha as players who have sampled English football.
Yet supporters may be left a little confused by Brazil’s goalkeeping ranks with neither Alisson nor Ederson anywhere to be seen…
Why are Alisson and Ederson not facing England?
Alisson has been missing with a hamstring problem since the middle of march.
Caoimhin Kelleher has deputised for Alisson admirably but Liverpool likely want their world-class goalkeeper back in action as soon as possible.
Jurgen Klopp has outlined that Alisson’s injury is ‘rather serious’, so his return is unknown – and that means Brazil haven’t been able to call him up this time.
Manchester City star Ederson then went and picked up an injury earlier in March, ironically against Alisson’s Liverpool.
Stefan Ortega came on to see out the game, meaning neither of the Premier League heavyweights had their first-choice stoppers between the sticks by the end of the game.
Ederson therefore missed the FA Cup clash with Newcastle United and could be out for a number of weeks, leaving him in a race against time to face Arsenal after the international break.
Ederson unsurprisingly isn’t on international duty as a result, leaving Brazil without their top two goalkeepers.
Who is usually Brazil’s first-choice goalkeeper?
It’s pretty incredible that Brazil’s two main goalkeepers play for two teams who have been going head to head for years now.
That gives Brazil and embarrassment of riches between the sticks and it’s Alisson who has largely been first-choice.
Alisson has racked up 63 caps for Brazil, more than double Ederson’s 25 caps.
Breaking into the Brazil side as a goalkeeper is an almost impossible task, but these injuries present aa potential opportunity for three uncapped stoppers.
Bento, Rafael and Leo Jardim are the three goalkeepers in contention to face England, so let’s have a look at who will be trying to frustrate the Three Lions.
Who is Brazil goalkeeper Bento?
The youngest of Brazil’s three stoppers is Bento, with the 24-year-old currently one of the top goalkeepers in Brazil.
The Athletico Paranaense star earned a first Brazil call-up back in August 2023 but is sill waiting for his first cap.
Eligible for Italy – and possibly Poland – Bento has reportedly already agreed to sign for Inter Milan at the end of the season.
Brazilian newspaper Globo Esporte add that Bento is likely to start tonight’s game and earn his first cap in the process.
Brazil shot-stopper Rafael profiled
Rafael is the most senior of the three goalkeepers as he turns 35 this summer.
Rafael has spent his entire career in Brazil, coming through the ranks at Cruzeiro as he made 97 appearances whilst spending most of his time on the bench.
Atletico Mineiro pounced to sign him in 2020 and it was much of the same with Rafael in and out of the side before leaving for Sao Pauloin January of last year.
This move has been the making of Rafael’s career, racking up 78 appearances already.
Now in the Brazil squad, Rafael could feature against England, even if only from the bench.
Brazil’s Leo Jardim profiled
Leo Jardim is a little different to Bento and Rafael in terms of the fact that he has experience in European football.
The 29-year-old broke through with Gremio in Brazil before being snapped up by French side Lille.
Jardim spent time out on loan at Portuguese side Boavista in the 2020-21 season and played 23 times for Lille before leaving in 2023.
Now back in Brazil with Vasco da Gama, Jardim is a former Brazil Under-20 international who would no doubt love to add a senior cap to his name.
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