Brazil pick England for World Cup base

BRAZIL will base themselves in England for an extended stay before the World Cup in Russia next summer.

The five-time winners do not want to spend more time than necessary in the host country and England is seen as the ideal location to prepare for the World Cup. They are expected to train at one of London’s Premier League clubs as well as play a warm-up match in the country.

Brazil, who are still the biggest attraction in international football, command appearance fees of £2-3million. The fixture at Wembley next Tuesday will be a £3m game, as England are regarded as top European opposition despite recent dismal major tournament results. And the desire to play Asian opposition has led to Brazil facing Japan in Lille on Friday with a mid-day kick-off to suit Japanese TV.

Brazil, whose tour programme is organised by British agents Pitch International, have another two marquee matches in March that are also seen as crucial to their World Cup preparation.

They will play Russia to mark the re-opening of Moscow’s revamped Luzhniki Stadium, which will stage the World Cup final. Then they play the world champions in Germany, hoping to avenge that humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat on home soil in 2014. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is said to be committed to reforming player transfers with the ruling body taking charge of the system.

Having got the main professional leagues onside, a working group drawn from all parts of the game are formulating serious changes.

Among the proposals are points deductions for clubs who renege on agreed payment schedules. And agents will be paid only by their players and not clubs to simplify tax requirements.

FIFA had previously washed their hands of keeping control of agents.