England and Brazil will meet for the 23rd time at Wembley Stadium tomorrow night.
Down the years there have been a number of memorable encounters between the two nations, with plenty of goals, red cards and incidents.
With that in mind, Sports Mole has gone through the record books to pick five of the best encounters involving the big footballing countries.
England 4-2 Brazil - May 1956
An estimated 100,000 spectators crammed into Wembley Stadium to watch Stanley Matthews lead out England against Brazil. While the visitors were known for their flair, it was Matthews and co that turned on the Samba style in a 4-2 victory. Manchester United's Tommy Taylor, who died during the Munich Air Disaster in 1958, opened the scoring in the third minute, before Colin Grainger added a second for the hosts two minutes later.
Brazil responded after the break with quickfire goals from Paulinho and Didi, only for Taylor and Sheffield United's Grainger to reply with another goal apiece to wrap up the victory in England's favour. The result would have been even more convincing had John Atyeo and Roger Byrne not missed penalties.
Brazil 5-1 England - May 1964
This was widely regarded as one Pele's finest performances in a Brazil shirt inside the famous Maracana Stadium. Rinaldo put the home side in front, but an impressive England up until that point equalised soon after the restart courtesy of Jimmy Greaves.
However, that was when Pele stole the show, playing a big part in Rinaldo's second goal of the night, as well as goals for both Julinho and Roberto Dias. The legend also got his own name among the scorers as the rout was completed.
England's team on that occasion included Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore.
Brazil 0-2 England - June 1984
England had never previously won in Rio de Janeiro and were not given much hope of breaking that sequence when they made the trip back in 1984. The hosts may have been missing the likes of Zico, Socrates and Falcao, but it was still a daunting outfit that took to the pitch.
However, John Barnes produced a goal just before the break that any Brazilian would be proud of to put England in front. The then-Watford attacker picked the ball up on the left wing before weaving his way into the area and slotting it into the net. He then turned provider in the second half for Mark Hateley to secure a 2-0 win for Bobby Robson's team.
England 1-3 Brazil - June 1995
Terry Venables had not tasted defeat as England manager when Brazil headed to Wembley in 1995 for an Umbro Cup encounter. It looked as though that record was going to remain in place when Graeme Le Saux lobbed the home team into a half-time lead.
However, watched in the stands by Pele, a young Ronaldo got his name on the scoresheet with what was his first goal in the yellow shirt during the second half. The 18-year-old was then instrumental as former Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho and Edmundo wrapped up the win for the South American nation.
England 1-2 Brazil - June 2002
Brazil headed into this encounter in Japan still stinging from their 3-0 defeat to France in the final of the World Cup four years earlier. Further heartache appeared to be heading their way when Michael Owen capitalised on an error from Lucio to chip England into the lead.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side rallied though and were level just before the break when Ronaldinho burst through the England midfield, before picking out Rivaldo to score. It wouldn't be Ronaldinho's last involvement either because five minutes after the restart he caught David Seaman out by lobbing the Arsenal goalkeeper with a free kick from wide on the right.
Ronaldinho was later sent off for a foul on Danny Mills, but his side held out to book their place in the semi-finals of a competition that they went on to win.
Liam Apicella
