Proud skipper Rooney admits Brazil the better side

England's stand-in captain Wayne Rooney conceded Brazil were the better team in their 1-0 friendly defeat in Qatar but admitted the defeat still hurt.

AP

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The Manchester United striker was handed the armband in the absence of the injured John Terry but could not inspire Fabio Capello's injury-hit side against the five-time World Cup winners.

Nilmar's 47th-minute header was the difference, although he also won a penalty after being brought down by goalkeeper Ben Foster but Luis Fabiano blazed over.

"It was a difficult game for us. Brazil were the better team and deserved to win," Rooney told ITV1. "Brazil move the ball really well and make you chase it, which is really hard to do for 90 minutes.

"We should have put more pressure on the first ball (for the goal). I'm not sure how he (Nilmar) has got in between the defence. We are looking to improve. Thankfully it is only a friendly but it is always difficult to take a defeat."

Capello accepted it was difficult to play against the world's number one-ranked country but felt England would have put in a better performance had they been able to call upon their first-choice line-up.

Missing from the team in Qatar were goalkeeper David James, the entire regular back four of Glen Johnson, Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole, midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and striker Emile Heskey.

"I think we played against a Brazil team who have the best XI in the world," said the Italian. "My first XI will be better than this one. But I found a lot of things positive. I understand the value of some of the players I checked on in this game when you play against these teams.

"We did some things well but it is very difficult to play against Brazil. The defended very well and against them it is difficult to create chances. The way we played in the first half was good enough but after the goal we lost position on the pitch.

"It was really important for me to understand certain things,'' he said. "I see these players a lot in England but it was important for me to see them in a test like that. The outcome was really interesting. In addition, I now understand the value of a team we might meet in South Africa.''

Goalkeeper Foster admitted he thought he would be sent off after bringing down Nilmar for the penalty instead of getting just a yellow card. "I think I was lucky. I expected the red card and I thought I was a bit of a goner," said Foster, who apportioned no blame to Manchester United team-mate Wes Brown after he lost his marker for the goal.

"It was a good goal; a great little ball over the top and they had a little bit more in their legs. I didn't think Wes switched off, it was a good run as he managed to get between two players."

James remains first choice but Foster is hopeful of forcing his way up the pecking order, in which he seems to currently be behind West Ham's Robert Green as he cannot get a game at club level. "I hope I have advanced my case. Fabio is doing wonders for me so I am just happy to be playing," he added.

Brazil coach Dunga said England they will need to learn how to dribble if they are going to make any impression on the World Cup favourites next summer.

"If they couldn't get past us they will have to learn to dribble then,'' he said. "But they got 11 men behind the ball themselves, so they know what it is like.''

Dunga did have some words of praise though, believing Capello has made big improvements. "They have changed,'' he said. "They are still an aggressive team but they have other qualities as well.''