Gareth Southgate believes that a decisive moment led to England’s loss against Brazil and has also confirmed that Harry Kane will not be playing in the upcoming match against Belgium.

Gareth Southgate has expressed his disappointment following England’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Brazil, attributing the loss to a “ruthless moment” by the opposition. The defeat also marked the end of England’s impressive 21-match unbeaten run at Wembley Stadium.

Despite the result, Southgate praised his players for their performances, stating that there were “some very good performances” on display. He highlighted the controlled nature of England’s play and the equal number of attempts on goal as positives from the game. Southgate also commended Anthony Gordon for his excellent performance on both sides of the game.

Southgate acknowledged that the crowd’s perception of the performance turned negative after the defeat, but he emphasized the need to put the result into context and recognize the many good aspects of England’s display. He described the match as a classic encounter against a South American team and noted that in a competitive setting, there would have been more cards given, which could have affected the flow of the game.

Injuries plagued England in the lead-up to the game, with Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, Cole Palmer, and Kyle Walker all ruled out. Saka withdrew from the squad entirely, and Southgate confirmed that Kane would also miss the upcoming game against Belgium. In Kane’s absence, Ollie Watkins stepped up and Southgate praised the Aston Villa striker for doing a “very good job” as the captain’s replacement.

Southgate acknowledged that chances were limited against a top team like Brazil but felt that England had opportunities from set-pieces that they could have capitalized on. He expressed his satisfaction with the players who were given a chance to prove themselves and stated the importance of learning more about them. Despite not getting a clear chance on goal, Southgate praised Watkins for his overall performance, highlighting his good work throughout the game.