sport

Jagielka ready for Brazil clash

Phil Jagielka is calling for England to repeat their heroics against Spain when Brazil head to Wembley for Wednesday's glamour friendly.

Jagielka helped shut out the world and European champions in November 2011, a result that proved to be one of the highlights of Fabio Capello's reign.

Now, the five-times World Cup winners are on their way, with Jagielka eager to claim another major scalp.

Speaking at a Vauxhall dealership in Warrington during an appearance for the England lead sponsor, Jagielka said: "This is a high stakes game.

"That Spain game wasn't make or break but because we won and kept a clean sheet it turned into a massive positive.

"It is a similar situation now. Whether I get to play, or someone else, it is about gaining experience from a great test."

The test is certainly going to be a unique one.

With Ronaldinho and Neymar both named in the first squad of Luiz Felipe Scolari's second spell as Brazil coach, England will be facing forwards at either end of football's experience spectrum.

Now 32 and playing back home for Atl?co Mineiro, Ronaldinho needs no introduction.

Neymar, who turns 21 on Tuesday, is on the other hand rather an enigma.

Other than his admittedly impressive performances from Brazil in their silver-medal-winning campaign at London 2012, most observers in this country only know of him through word of mouth, or clips on You Tube, which tend to extenuate the positive.

Not that there will be any escape for Jagielka and his defensive colleagues when it comes to analysing the youngster.

"I don't know a lot about Neymar," Jagielka said.

"We don't see a lot of footage. He plays in Brazil so it is tough for us.

"But we have video analysis people when we meet up with England and they will have plenty of footage for us to review.

"They will pick out his good points and bad ones. I am sure the good points will be going on for hours."

Not that Jagielka can be entirely certain of getting the job of subduing Brazil's attackers.

There has been a sense of uncertainty over those central defensive positions ever since John Terry opted to quit the England scene last September.

"The last 12 months have been a bit of a whirlwind," said Jagielka.

"From being in a position where you could pretty much have written down the back four and guessed who was going to be on the bench, now I don't think anyone is guaranteed to start.

"We have four or five really good centre-backs who are competing for both positions.

"It is not even like one is nailed down and the other is available.

"I guess that is what the manager enjoys.

"He has got a bit of everything; youth, experience, people who are playing in the Champions League.

"It is down to us to try and put your authority down and get that place."

One thing is for sure, Jagielka is convinced the FA's year-long celebrations will have no effect on England's World Cup qualifying campaign.

While it would be something of a dampener for the Three Lions to reach the year end with no World Cup campaign to plan for, Jagielka does not see how that knowledge can increase pressure given the expectation that already exists around Hodgson and his players.

"There is always pressure," he said.

"It is fantastic to celebrate 150 years but as far being an England player is concerned, we need to reach major competitions.

"That doesn't change regardless of how many years we have been in business."