Fabio Capello has identified Brazil as the biggest threat to England's hopes of winning the World Cup next year.

Throughout his largely impressive reign, Capello has continually stressed his admiration for Spain.

The Euro 2008 winners put England to the sword in Seville earlier this year, when the passing of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Xabi Alonso left them bemused and bewildered.

But Capello also fancied his side's chances of revenge if the pair were to meet again in South Africa next summer because he believes, just like Liverpool, they are over-reliant on Fernando Torres for their attacking thrust.

Now a different threat has emerged. And while those yellow shirts may be familiar, this Brazil team has added menace.

Yes, they have all the silky skills and fluid touch of their illustrious predecessors. However, there is a tenacity and work ethic that comes not from Copacabana beach, but the harsh playing fields of Europe, where Dunga's team all ply their trade.

It worked perfectly at the Confederations Cup, where Brazil finished triumphant, and it was brilliant in Argentina a couple of months ago when they destroyed their old rivals.

Now Capello has first-hand experience after last night's 1-0 defeat in Doha. And he accepts a solution to the problem they pose will not be found easily.

"It was the first time we played against a team that was so physically strong, fast and technically good," reflected Capello.

"Their style is very different to Spain.

"Spain are really good technically. They pass the ball a lot. But they are not as strong and they don't defend as well.

"When we played Spain they were very good but we still created four chances to score.

"Last night I counted two; once when James Milner crossed the ball and on another occasion when Wayne Rooney tried to shoot after a dribble.

"When you look at that, I don't think Brazil will be easy to beat."

In arranging a series of tough friendlies, Capello is not so much concerned about the result as the performance, both of his team as a whole and individual players within it.

The depressing thing for the Italian was that the result turned out to be the most positive aspect of the evening.

After all, this was an England second team facing a Brazil side that, apart from the absence of Luisao and Robinho, was the same one the five-times world champions had on duty in Rosario for that destruction of Diego Maradona's men.

The only trouble was, Brazil's strongest side treated last night like an exhibition match, which the hungry young bucks in white should have been able to exploit.

Instead, they were bypassed totally and only managed to keep the score down because Luis Fabiano missed a penalty and Lucio smashed a fierce shot against a post.

"We were missing a lot of players," said Capello, by way of explaining his fourth defeat as England manager and his second in three games.

"This team has not played so many games but I am happy with the performance of some players. I understand a lot."

Capello will surely understand that far from forcing their way into his plans for South Africa, some of his players were searching for another door entirely.

As two men at the outer edge of the fringes, Jermaine Jenas and Darren Bent must have known this was their big chance. They failed.

Wes Brown and Wayne Bridge have a greater bank of better performances to fall back on, but both were average at best, the same could be said for Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is lagging behind Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon in the battle to provide pace down the right.

Indeed, apart from James Milner and Ben Foster, the biggest winners were probably Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves, who know they do not have that much to beat if they are to make it into Capello's 23-man party.

England have one game left before a provisional squad has to be named.

Capello will identify potential opponents for that March 3 date once the group stage draw has been made in Cape Town on December 4.

On last night's evidence, he can only hope all those injuries have started to clear up.