FOR three minutes England fans were able to hark back to 1984 and their last visit to the Maracana.
That day their side had come away with a famous 2-0 victory, one which was garnished by John Barnes' superb solo goal.
The Liverpool forward had driven forward with such pace that day that he had planted a shot into the net in a flash, which was perhaps just as well as by the time supporters had finished recalling that moment, this contemporary England side had surrendered their lead. Wayne Rooney had added to a Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain effort to give them a 2-1 lead, only for Paulinho to puncture their celebrations just minutes later.
Brazil are not as formidable as they were 29 years ago, of course, but there is still a thrill to be taken from getting the better of them. That feeling was short lived for Roy Hodson last night but the England manager will still be able to derive positives from a draw.
The growing confidence of Oxlade-Chamberlain, for example, will seem encouraging. The 19-year-old had been omitted from the starting line-up despite having begun in midweek against the Republic of Ireland, as Hodgson went with a predictably cautious XI, and Rooney as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.
The caution would wear on those watching the first half an hour, though – with the shot count 13 for Brazil and a big fat zero for Hodgson's side. Indeed the outstanding player on the pitch was the England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who produced sprawling save after heroic block.
Dani Alves was the first to threaten the Manchester City player – from all of 30 yards, too – and then Neymar seized on a chance. Hart pushed one clear and blocked the other.
The 21-year-old Neymar, whose transfer to Barcelona was completed last week, ran the show in the first half and he twisted into space on the edge of the box before bending a lovely effort just wide – much to Hart's relief. The England goalkeeper was then called upon to scramble the ball away from Neymar's fleet feet moments later.
He would not be able to keep the Brazilians at arm's length all night, though, and Fred put the hosts ahead after 57 minutes. Hernanes' shot bounced back off the crossbar and Fred popped up to hook a volley under Hart which was much harder than it looked.
It looked as though the hosts might exert greater control on a match in which they had seldom been unnerved, but then Rooney and Oxlade-Chamberlain decided to join in. James Milner showed some shrewd footwork to work a pass in to Rooney and the Manchester United striker lifted a shot into the net, albeit off the back of Fernando.
It was his 36th goal for England but supporters had already been moved to hail the growing prominence of a new hero. Arsenal's Oxlade-Chamberlain can seem burly and unrefined at times but his cool finish under Julio Cesar for England's first was a composed finish and hinted at his growing promise.
The Maracana has witnessed some rousing Brazilian displays in the past, however, and Paulinho offered another when he struck the ball past Hart for a belated equaliser.
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