MANCHESTER -- There was very little about England 's 2-1 defeat to Brazil on Saturday which was welcoming for the start of their "Homecoming Series," as they've called it. For the first 21 minutes of what was meant to be a celebration of their logic-defying Euro 2025 triumph, the Lionesses' had turned up at their own house party and found the place trashed, spray painted in Brazilian green and gold.

Then, after the red card for Brazil captain Angelina , England pressed and prodded for 70 minutes, but couldn't find a way to definitively assert their numerical advantage -- only getting one back on the scoreboard from the penalty spot.

Yes, England were without several of the team that guided them to their rollercoaster triumph in Switzerland back in July, and had a debutant goalkeepe

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