What is the point of England v Germany and England v Brazil?
If there was any chance of our best eleven playing we could field a team that could, at least, compete, but of course there is no chance of that. We've lost Alli and Kane days before we start ..... to add to those who weren't ever fit enough for selection. A couple of others are bound to develop niggles fearful of soiling their own reputation. So we'll end up with half a team playing whatever Germany and Brazil feel might be beneficial to their own development strategy.
Although, if we had everyone fit, we could produce a decent England side, potentially capable of the quarter or semi final of a World Cup, our actual problem is beating the sides we might meet in the group stages. If we were in a group with either Germany or Brazil, do you really think we'd be thinking let's win this one? We'd be thinking draw with Germany and get four points from the other two games and we'll be through. So do we arrange friendlies against the sort of sides we'll want to beat first-up in Russia. No. We play two sides that we might have to beat to win the whole thing .......... and ignore the hundred or more countries who might provide the informative opposition we need to actually get us out of a group ........ and because it is a friendly we'll play them in a way which will be very little help were we to meet them for real.
Of course it's really only for telly and the dosh. We might as well challenge Germany and Brazil at Strictly. Jamie could manage the squad, his missus did decent. The viewers could cast their votes and complain as usual when they realise they've voted Raheem into a dance-off with Leroy Sane and Coutinho ........... by voting to keep Eamonn Holmes's missus and her gobby partner .........
If there was any chance of our best eleven playing we could field a team that could, at least, compete, but of course there is no chance of that. We've lost Alli and Kane days before we start ..... to add to those who weren't ever fit enough for selection. A couple of others are bound to develop niggles fearful of soiling their own reputation. So we'll end up with half a team playing whatever Germany and Brazil feel might be beneficial to their own development strategy.
Although, if we had everyone fit, we could produce a decent England side, potentially capable of the quarter or semi final of a World Cup, our actual problem is beating the sides we might meet in the group stages. If we were in a group with either Germany or Brazil, do you really think we'd be thinking let's win this one? We'd be thinking draw with Germany and get four points from the other two games and we'll be through. So do we arrange friendlies against the sort of sides we'll want to beat first-up in Russia. No. We play two sides that we might have to beat to win the whole thing .......... and ignore the hundred or more countries who might provide the informative opposition we need to actually get us out of a group ........ and because it is a friendly we'll play them in a way which will be very little help were we to meet them for real.
Of course it's really only for telly and the dosh. We might as well challenge Germany and Brazil at Strictly. Jamie could manage the squad, his missus did decent. The viewers could cast their votes and complain as usual when they realise they've voted Raheem into a dance-off with Leroy Sane and Coutinho ........... by voting to keep Eamonn Holmes's missus and her gobby partner .........
