Keegan counsels caution after Wembley yawn

As Gianluca Vialli said, it's been a long season. That was the Saturday before this, so leaving Wembley underwhelmed again could not be called a novelty. It's just that watching Brazil should entail more gasps than yawns, while for England there is the approaching fact that their Euro 2000 group matches start a fortnight today. Some zip could have been expected from Kevin Keegan's players. Unfortunately the zip remained fastened.

That added to the neutral's sense of disappointment. More importantly, it added to Keegan's sense of urgency. Keegan looked a worried man on Saturday teatime. Yes, England had drawn with the team some people think is the best in the world despite France's rightful claim to that title, and yes England had more efforts on and off target than the Brazilians, but Keegan was understandably taken aback when an over-enthusiastic English reporter tried to infer that England had impressed. "It was okay. Let's not get carried away," replied Keegan.

The England manager is often accused of being a tub-thumper first and foremost and not very much after that, so his realism was refreshing. He was sensibly perturbed by some of England's passing from defence. Martin Keown and Sol Campbell looked awkward in possession; Gary Neville continues to be afflicted by the poor form he collected in Brazil on Manchester United duty; and his brother Philip pumped the ball forward aimlessly so many times that Keegan had to have a word with him at half-time.

"I said to Phil: `You just can't kick it long all the time. Against a team like Brazil it's just going to come back to you'." In a match like this one it takes quite some time for it to return. Part of the reason why not too much of significance should be read into this 90 minutes was Brazil's readiness to erase the competitive element by shifting the ball around at the back. Consequently England were robbed of possession and we were denied the opportunity to see just what they can do with the ball.

Keegan may be concerned about the quality, composition and formation of his defence - the increasingly uncertain David Seaman, Campbell and Gary Neville were each at fault for Franca's prosaic equaliser - but when his side walk out to meet Portugal in Eindhoven on the 12th June, it will be this England's lack of creativity that will be equally apparent.

The early headers at Wembley from Alan Shearer and Keown came from David Beckham free-kicks and Michael Owen's sixth goal for his country, while being delicately manoeuvred by Beckham's glancing header and Shearer's deft pass, originated from Gary Neville's long throw-in. Shearer, responsible for some fairly political remarks about wanting to see Emile Heskey as his partner, took a little while to congratulate Owen.

The only time England actually exposed Brazil through neat pass-and-move football was in the 20th minute when Paul Ince and Paul Scholes shuttled the ball to Dennis Wise. His shot was pushed away by goalkeeper Dida. Ince has surprised Keegan by his desire not to be considered a past-tense international and is now practically guaranteed a place. But Ince is a defensive screen these days and though involved in England's best move, he is no Zidane. Other than that Keegan had to wait until the 88th minute when Scholes and Robbie Fowler connected to see some optimism-inducing interplay.

Fowler had been given all of six minutes to show his state of fitness and match sharpness and will be given longer on Wednesday when Ukraine come to town. Fowler, Keegan indicated after, will start. So will Steve McManaman, possibly on the left. There may also be a first cap for Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard is 20 tomorrow but is regarded as the closest thing to Paul Gascoigne since Joe Cole broke his leg. Watching Gerrard at Bradford on the last day of the season it was possible to see what all the fuss is about. He is a slick-passing midfielder who can fill in at right back and a decent performance against Ukraine could see Gerrard leap into the frame to meet Portugal by virtue of the absence of anyone with broader vision. If he plays on Wednesday Gerrard will be in Keegan's 22-man squad. "I've watched him more than any other player this season," said Keegan.

Gerrard's inclusion is likely to be at the expense of his club colleague Jamie Redknapp. Ray Parlour, injured on Saturday, is another awaiting news anxiously, as is Rio Ferdinand. Keegan will break the news, good and bad, to his squad on Wednesday afternoon. He will then announce the decision to the nation after the final whistle against Ukraine. The drama to come will certainly beat Saturday's.