This international had just about everything and the 100,000 people who were privileged to be present enjoyed every minute of an occasion that was pulsating from first whistle to last.  Two early goals gave England a tremendous start and the exciting incidents came one after the other.  Superlatives are frequent in this report and that just about sums up a superb game.

England began with devastating burst and in the opening seconds Tommy Taylor found himself clean through, only to shoot just too high with the crowd already celebrating a goal.  They did not have to wait much longer, though, as after two minutes Taylor had redeemed himself with a lovely goal.  A fine move began with a pass from Duncan Edwards to Stanley Matthews.  The 41-year old genius put a lovely square pass inside to Johnny Haynes who, in turn, pushed the ball forward.  Taylor was on to it like a flash and crashed the ball into the roof of the Brazilian net.

Amazingly, within three minutes of that goal England went 2-0 up.  Stan Matthews was again heavily involved, picking the ball up near the corner-flag at England's end, he cheekily flicked it between Canhoteiro's legs to find Jeff Hall.  The full-back's long, raking pass forward found Taylor again beating Pavão, and, after Haynes had got a touch, Colin Grainger was there to slam home number two.

Incidents galore followed, notably when Canhoteiro struck a shot against an England post, but the home side held on to their lead although realising only too well that Brazil were far from out of the game.

The first half had been superb, surely the second half could not live up to that standard? It did!  And not only that the entertainment surpassed the first 45 minutes.  Within ten minutes of the restart Brazil had suddenly pulled level.  With the wind now behind them and with the rain now falling they began the half with a renewed appetite.

Nilton Santos, a superb player, made a break down the left.  His cross found Paulinho on the right.  The winger seemingly had nowhere to go but suddenly unleashed a shot with struck Roger Byrne and deflected up and over Reg Matthews to spin wickedly over the line.  Two minutes later, Brazil were level.  A rare mistake by Billy Wright gave Didi possession.  The wonderfully gifted player then surprised England's goalkeeper with a vicious 20-yard shot which Matthews could only help into the net.

With Brazil now having their tails well and truly up they proceeded to push the ball around Wembley's lush turf confidently and with great skill.  It was now, though, that their South American temperament came into the story.  On the hour, the Brazilian tendency for over excitement gave England a penalty when a defender inexplicably handled the ball following Hayne's free-kick.

The referee unhesitatingly gave the spot-kick but in so doing sent the Brazilians wild with rage.  For a while the French referee struggled to regain control of a volatile situation but eventually the kick could be taken.  Somewhat surprisingly the responsibility was given to John Atyeo, who had not had a particularly inspired game. The crowd groaned as Atyeo's kick was saved by Gilmar. However it was not long before those groans turned to cheers.

Stan Matthews took a lovely pass from Haynes and centred Atyeo to head the ball back for Taylor to head England back into the lead.  Soon afterwards, in this breathless match, England were awarded another penalty for handball.  Again there was pandemonium in the Brazilian ranks and again England missed the kick. This time Bryne's shot was saved by Gilmar.

But, with ten minutes to go, England, with Stan Matthews again to the fore, scored their fourth and most decisive goal.  Hall found the Blackpool winger and once again the maestro served up a perfect centre for Grainger to celebrate a fine debut by heading past Gilmar in style.

The teams left the arena to tremendous and deserved applause, it had all been wonderful entertainment.
    

It was billed as the 'Old World meets the New' and Brazil arrived with many of the players who two years later were to win the World Cup in such dazzling fashion. England got off to a flying start under the Wembley Stadium floodlights with Tommy Taylor and Colin Grainger scoring inside the first five minutes. The Brazilians fought back to 2-2, and then John Atyeo and Roger Byrne each had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Gylmar. The penalty misses sandwiched a second goal by Taylor, made for him by a Stanley Matthews at his magical best against one of the all-time great left-backs, Nilton Santos. Matthews had been recalled by England at the age of forty-one, and he played like a twenty-one-year-old. There was a farcical second-half hold up following a dispute over a quickly taken free-kick by Johnny Haynes. The ball was caught by Nilton Santos and the Brazilians staged a walk-off protest when the referee awarded a penalty. By the time peace was restored it was no wonder that Atyeo failed with the spot-kick. Colin Grainger crowned a memorable debut with a second goal five minutes from the end of an extraordinary match. Cool and commanding at all times, Billy Wright kept his head when all about were losing theirs. He acted as a peacemaker when the talented but temperamental Brazilians threatened to walk off. It was a real captain's performance, a mix  of diplomacy and sportsmanship. It was not only newcomers who were affected by nerves. Johnny Haynes asked Stanley Matthews for his autograph in the dressing-room before this match against Brazil. The Maestro's hands were shaking so much that he could not hold the pen properly, and he asked Johnny to wait until after the game! Stanley was really wound up for this one because the Brazilians had stressed in the pre-match build-up that there was not a player in the world who could get the better of the great Nilton Santos. But as good a player as Santos was, he could not get near Stanley who was in untouchable form. At the end of the game Nilton was sporting enough to say, "Mister Matthews, you are the king."
   

This was the first meeting between the two countries. Like England, Brazil had reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1954. They had won the South American Championship in 1949 and had finished runners-up to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.

England were two up in just five minutes. Matthews set up the first with Haynes knocking the ball on for Tommy Taylor, who beat Pavao before running on and shooting past Gilmar. Then Colin Grainger raced in and slotted home number two, also from a Haynes pass.

Just after half-time Brazil suddenly sprang to life. A cross from Nilton Santos was reached by Paulinho, whose shot spun off Byrne and over Matthews. Two minutes later, Didi collected a clearance from Wright and deceived Matthews from the edge of the box with a spinning shot to bring Brazil level. After an hour's play, England were given an opportunity to regain the lead when a Haynes free-kick was handled by Zozimo in the area. After a long delay, during which Alvaro walked away with the ball, Atyeo's kick was saved by Gilmar. Atyeo soon made amends, however, when he headed on Matthews cross for Taylor to head his second and put England back in front. England were then awarded another penalty, when a move involving Taylor and Atyeo was stopped by another Zozimo handling offence. Incredibly, Byrne shot wide. It was left to the ever-reliable 41 year old, Stan Matthews to make sure of victory with yet another accurate centre for Grainger to net his second.

England next met Brazil in a goalless draw in the 1958 World Cup in Gothenburg. England were the only team to prevent them from scoring but Brazil went on to mesmerize Europe by winning the World Cup, scoring five in both the semi-final and final. They then beat England twice before returning to Wembley in 1963.
   

Even though the sides were level at 2-2 after ten minutes of the second half, England won this match at Wembley on May 9th much more easily than the score would suggest. England started off in the grand manner. In the opening seconds Taylor shot hard over the bar. After three minutes' play Stanley Matthews gave Haynes a perfect pass; a swivel and a push to Taylor and we were one up. After five minutes Hall found Taylor with a long pass; a flick to Haynes, and there was Grainger unmarked to give England the tremendous advantage of an early two-goal lead. Soon after the interval, however, Brazil scored two rather lucky goals, and it needed a couple of pin-point centres from Matthews for Taylor and Grainger to clinch the issue with two well-headed shots. Our advantage should have been increased when England were awarded two penalties for deliberate hands but, partly due to the uproar caused by the disputing Brazilians, both these were missed. In spite of the extraordinary happenings, England coasted home to a comfortable and most encouraging win.