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Classic clashes

England and Brazil meet at Wembley in a friendly on Wednesday night as part of the Football Association's 150th anniversary celebrations. Here, we raid the archives to look back at some classic matches between the two nations

Image: Ronaldo has Stuart Pearce chasing his tail as Brazil teach England a lesson at Wembley back in 1995

The archives have been raided as we look back at some classic matches between England and Brazil.

Brazil 0-0 England (World Cup Group Four, June 11, 1958)

Despite being deprived of Duncan Edwards and three of his fellow Munich air crash victims, and leaving out Stanley Matthews and Nat Lofthouse, England held the eventual World Cup winners to a goalless draw - the first in any World Cup finals contest - in Gothenburg with Bill Slater effectively shackling player of the tournament Didi. England drew all three of their Group Four matches before Anatoli Ilyin's goal for the Soviet Union saw them eliminated in a play-off.

Brazil 1-0 England (World Cup Group Three, June 7, 1970)

Two of English football's most abiding images stem from the same game in Guadalajara - goalkeeper Gordon Banks' strong hand to scoop Pele's powerful downward header around the goalframe at full stretch and Bobby Moore's last-ditch block tackle on Jairzinho. Their efforts proved in vain, though, as Jairzinho netted a well-worked winner and Jeff Astle fired England's best chance wide.

Brazil 0-2 England (Friendly, June 10, 1984)

This friendly in the Maracana was heading towards half-time with the scoreline blank until a young John Barnes received Mark Hateley's pass 30 yards out on the left wing, weaved through the entire home defence, and slotted in right-footed for one of his country's finest goals. Barnes turned provider for Hateley to head the second through the grasp of goalkeeper Roberto Costa.

England 1-3 Brazil (Umbro Cup, June 11, 1995)

England suffered a first home defeat in four years, and a first of any description under Terry Venables' management, despite full-back Graeme Le Saux's stunning volley giving them a first-half lead. Juninho's free-kick, Ronaldo's first international goal and Edmundo's strike earned the South American giants the spoils.

England 1-2 Brazil (World Cup Quarter-Final, June 21, 2002)

England's World Cup dreams were ended in Shizuoka, Japan, with David Seaman's error lingering in the memory. Michael Owen put England ahead after Emile Heskey's through-ball eluded Lucio, but Rivaldo equalised after a fine solo run by Ronaldinho. Ronaldinho's 45-yard curling free-kick flummoxed Seaman for what turned out to be the winner, with England unable to capitalise on the forward's subsequent harsh red card for a foul on Danny Mills.

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