Neymar looks to learn from Brazil's difficulties vs England

Maybe Neymar is saving himself for the World Cup.

Brazil's Casemiro's tackle sends England's Ryan Bertrand flying during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

For now, since becoming soccer's most expensive player, finding the net is proving challenging for Neymar in a Brazil jersey. Even when coming up against an inexperienced defender in Joe Gomez who was making his first England start.

A 0-0 draw against England at Wembley Stadium left Neymar with only one goal in six games for the five-time world champions.

Not that the forward, who cost Paris Saint-Germain 222 million euros ($260 million in August), was too dispirited. Instead, he hopes the challenge posed by a resilient England serves Brazil well as it prepares for the World Cup.

England's Joe Gomez, left, and Brazil's Neymar challenge for the ball during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

"We faced difficulties, but that is good for us," Neymar said. "Most of our games will be like today. It was a match of overlapping, quick passes, moving around."

But with little created to trouble Joe Hart in the England goal. The hosts, too, were sterile going forward with striker Harry Kane sidelined through injury.

"I like the way we played. We did not give them any chances," Neymar said. "It was a match with high ball possession and we knew we were playing a team that would be more defensive than the others."

Brazil's goalkeeper Alisson saves before England's Dominic Solanke can score during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

In his first European test as Brazil coach, Tite was surprised at the English defensive discipline and mental strength.

"They were like ice," Tite said. "They were really cold and never lost their minds."

England had also stayed cool on Friday against another of the world's leading teams when Germany was held to a scoreless draw in north London.

England's John Stones, left, heads the ball besides team mate Tammy Abraham during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

"They won't face a more difficult test than in the last two matches," England coach Gareth Southgate said. "I'm probably more proud tonight because we played the best team in the world with a full team out. We've come out with a really credible result."

In a friendly of few chances in front of 84,595 fans, the closest England and Brazil came to breaking the deadlock came in the final 15 minutes.

A long-range strike from Fernandinho shaved the post and Neymar fed Paulinho, who was denied at the near post by England goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Brazil's Neymar takes the ball forward watched by England's Joe Gomez, left, and England's Eric Dier during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

"We were playing the best team in the world at the moment. I thought they were brilliant," Hart said. "They made it really hard for us and we had to adapt on the pitch ... the defensive backline were absolutely phenomenal."

Dominic Solanke could have won it for England on his international debut in the closing minutes, but he failed to control Ashley Young's cross, enabling goalkeeper Ramses Becker to gather the ball.

"Tonight we looked anxious with the ball," Southgate said, "and I think that is a consequence of the threat from Brazil."

Brazil's Neymar kneels on the ground during the international friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Brazil, though, has only conceded 5 goals in its last 17 games and scored 38 times. Neymar's only goal in the games since September came in a 3-1 victory over Japan on Friday before traveling to London.

"Against Japan we tested ourselves against a more mobile and skilled team, against England we tested ourselves against a team of strong and tall players, very solid," said Tite, who was hired in June 2016. "This will help in preparations."

England and Brazil will be traveling to the World Cup next year trying to erase painful memories of the 2014 tournament. For Brazil, there was the humiliating 7-1 exit to Germany in the semifinals on home soil. England didn't even make it out of the group stage.

But at least both sides have qualified for Russia next year, unlike four-time champion Italy.

"History and T-shirts are not enough to take you to a World Cup," Tite said of Italy's failure to advance from the playoffs on Monday.

SAO PAULO (AP) — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday announced the creation of two new Indigenous territories for Brazil, bringing the total number of new reserves during this term to 10.

The Cacique Fontoura reserve will be in Mato Grosso state and the Aldeia Velha territory will be in Bahia state. They will cover a combined total area of almost 132 square miles (342 square kilometers).

Speaking at a ceremony in Brasilia, Lula's said Indigenous peoples should be patient as he seeks to fulfill his pledge of creating 14 new territories.

Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had encouraged widespread development of the Amazon — both legal and illegal — and made good on his pledge to not demarcate a single centimeter of additional Indigenous land.

Lula took office in 2023 pledging to change that, but Indigenous rights activists hoped he would move faster. Last year, he demarcated six territories in April and two more in September.

The Brazilian president said during his speech that the latest two new territories would not be enough. He cited legal issues for the delay in setting aside additional lands.

“I know you have some concern because you were expecting six Indigenous lands. We decided to authorize two, and that frustrated some of our friends,” Lula said, standing next to his Indigenous peoples minister, Sônia Guajajara, who wore a traditional yellow feather headdress. “I did this so I wouldn't lie to you. It is better to solve the problems instead of just authorizing it.”

The four envisioned Indigenous territories that were not authorized are occupied by farmers who have ownership rights to those lands, Brazil's government said.

Indigenous leader Dinamam Tuxá told journalists he was “partially happy.”

“Every new Indigenous territory is a victory,” Tuxá said.

Last year, Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled to enshrine Indigenous land rights in a case brought by farmers seeking to block Indigenous peoples from expanding the size of their territorial claims.

The court rejected a legal theory arguing the date that Brazil's constitution was promulgated — Oct. 5, 1988 — should be the deadline for when Indigenous peoples had to have already either physically occupied land or be legally fighting to reoccupy it.

Several lawmakers in Brazil's Congress are still pushing to revive that theory and fit it into legislation.

Indigenous rights groups argued the concept of the deadline is unfair, saying it does not account for expulsions and forced displacements of Indigenous populations, particularly during Brazil’s two-decade military dictatorship.

An Indigenous representative takes a photo with his cell phone as he waits for the start of the closing ceremony of the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the National Council for Indigenous Policy, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The council, dissolved in 2019, was revived in 2023. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the closing ceremony of the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the National Council for Indigenous Policy, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The council, dissolved in 2019, was revived in 2023. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Sonia Guajajara arrive to the closing ceremony of the 1st Ordinary Meeting of the National Council for Indigenous Policy, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 18, 2024. The council, dissolved in 2019, was revived in 2023. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)