Australia and Brazil to play second football match in Brisbane

Both teams are out to sing anthems ahead of kick-off. It’s a sold-out crowd here at Suncorp Stadium and a clear 17 degree night.

In other news, and speaking of injured players, Jordan Bos has been voted the 2026 PFA Men’s Footballer of the Year, which is voted on by members of Professional Footballers Australia, the players’ union.

You may not have heard of it, but it is a prestigious award, considering who decides it and who has won it in the past: Tim Cahill, Mark Schwarzer, Mile Jedinak, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic, Maty Ryan ... the list goes on.

Bos has had a terrific year, reaching new heights in his club career with Feyenoord and emerging as arguably the Socceroos’ most dynamic player until he suffered that injury on the stroke of half-time at the World Cup against Egypt.

Had that not happened, I reckon he’d have been another one of those Socceroos who transferred clubs after the World Cup. Regardless, he’s almost made for the Premier League, and he’ll get there eventually.

If you care at all about the FIFA World Rankings, then you may be pleased to hear that after a 1-1 draw in the first friendly, Australia gained a position – moving from 28th to 27th, putting them above Algeria and below Ecuador.

Meanwhile, Brazil, who arrived in Australia ranked fifth in the world, are now in sixth. This makes the current top five: Spain, Argentina, France, England and Morocco.

Another person who spoke at the function in Brisbane’s West End is former Socceroos Frank Farina, who reminded the crowd that he was sacked just before the “golden generation” blossomed in 2005.

But from 1999 until that year, when he was replaced by Guus Hiddink, Farina was the coach who sewed the seeds, and he can see clear parallels between then and now.

“During the World Cup, I was glued to every Australian game, and even the other night against Brazil,” Farina said.

“I think we’re seeing the rebirth of a golden generation. They need time, they’re only young. When you look at the age of these players, it’s amazing, and where they’re playing, what they’re doing, it just reminds me of those times in 1999.

“They’re in good hands with Tony Popovic, so I think the future looks really bright.”

The starting line-ups are in ... and the Socceroos are unchanged, which is a bit of a surprise. I was sure that Tony Popovic would look at rotating a few players, but I guess he thought that Friday night’s team worked well and wants to give them another run together to see if they can repeat the dosage against Brazil.

Remember, after tonight, they have only two more games (in November) until the Asian Cup starts in January, so there really isn’t much time for experimentation. This is close to Australia’s strongest possible XI; the sidelined Jordan Bos, Cristian Volpato and Mohamed Toure all probably would have been in the mix to start, but they’re injured.

And as for Brazil? A whopping seven changes. It’s easier to tell you who’s kept their spots: Raphinha, who wears the captain’s armband, Vinicius jnr, Bruno Guimaraes and Danilo. So no Endrick or Estevao.

Their goalscorer in Townsville, Rayan – the forward from AFC Bournemouth whose last-gasp header saved the Selecao from an almighty embarrassment – has been elevated into the starting line-up. Good for him. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Otavio and midfielder Gabriel Bontempo have been named for their international debuts. Where else would you want to do that than Suncorp Stadium?

As we reported yesterday, Brazil scrapped the planned open training session they were supposed to hold at Suncorp Stadium, much to the disappointment of those who have travelled from interstate for this match – most of whom will be returning home on Wednesday, which means they’ll miss the rescheduled public appearance on Thursday morning.

The plans changed at Ancelotti’s behest, because of the immense pressure the team is feeling after Friday night’s 1-1 draw in Townsville. Nor did Brazil do a formal pre-match press conference.

Instead, at a function on Monday night in Brisbane’s West End, Ancelotti was part of a panel discussion with Socceroos boss Tony Popovic, and answered some questions from the Brazilian media, who have been smashing him.

It got pretty willing, as he was at pains to explain the “step by step” process that must be undertaken to rebuild their national team, which has only once progressed past the quarter-finals of a World Cup since the last time they won it in 2002 - and that was in 2014, when they hosted the tournament, and suffered an infamous 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, which plunged the entire nation into crisis.