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I was at Wembley. The booing of White seemed a bit performative really, just silly - ignore it.
Palmer was best, the defence was fairly solid, and lots of early World cup games will be tactical like this. We'll need good shape. It's a shame Foden isn't firing... he just needs to sharpen the angles and go on the attack.
All right, we’ll move on from the White booing. I can’t see it being an issue at the World Cup given who knows how many England supporters will actually travel due to the ticket prices and everything else. White might not go himself but he’s given himself a decent shot.
Speaking of the World Cup …
Predictions for the World Cup?
England should make Q/F, but the additional 'Round of 32' has the potential to throw the proverbial spanner in the works - be it injuries, a sending-off, elimination (unlikely but not impossible). After that, it could be Mexico (in Mexico City!), Portugal, Spain, Argentina. World Cup pathways rarely work out as predicted though, as shown by Morocco in 2022.
Scotland - obviously need to take their chances as tournament football is invariably low scoring. The additional round of 32 presents an opportunity though, and after that, who knows?
Norway, after a stellar qualification performance, could emerge as surprise contenders for Q/Fs, but Odegaard needs to be fit for them.
Overall - Spain look very strong, have fantastic tournament know-how, will have huge support and look likely winners. But this is a very open World Cup. In 2018, I had a tenner on France at 6/1, pre tournament and was very confident, but think I'll wait this time.
Spain beat Serbia 3-0 last night (ominous) and Norway lost 2-1 in the Netherlands (no shame in that). Given they’ve got France and Senegal in their group, Norway could either go straight out or get some scalps under their belt early on.
Apart from Kane and Rice are there any potential England players in genuinely good form at the moment? None of the much vaunted number 10s or wide players seem to be.
Jordan Pickford has been excellent for Everton recently. The same with Nico O’Reilly at Manchester City. Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo have done well for United. It’s not all doom and gloom.
But it does seem like the forward players are struggling a bit. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers … all below their usual standards at the moment. Bukayo Saka’s doing OK for Arsenal?
Injured Raphinha to miss Champions League quarters
Raphinha will miss Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Atlético Madrid early next month after suffering a hamstring injury on international duty in the United States with Brazil.
The 29-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Barcelona this season, picked up the injury on Thursday in Brazil’s 2-1 defeat by France in Foxborough.
“The player is returning to Barcelona to begin the appropriate treatment. The estimated recovery time is five weeks,” Barcelona said in a statement.
Barcelona, who are four points clear of Real Madrid in La Liga, host Atlético in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on 8 April with the return in Madrid on 14 April.
Raphinha scored twice in Barcelona’s thumping 7-2 victory over Newcastle in the last 16 earlier this month. Reuters
Plenty of England realism in the comment section:
I watched France vs Brazil two days ago and France look imperious. If tuchel was hired for the sole purpose of winning a major trophy, and his team plays like they did yesterday, then when compared to France and co the only conclusion is - NOT A CHANCE.
No surprise really, it’s how Arsenal City and Liverpool have played all season - slow sideways and backwards monotonous football with the odd tentative foray into the opposition box.
I just browsed the player rankings and was surprised, I hadn't even known several of them were on the pitch.
As with any England friendly, we are compelled to ask: What did we actually learn?
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That large parts of England supporters have not forgiven Ben White for something that happened four years ago?
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That picking a squad of 35 players and having 11 just watch in tracksuits from a plush suite is bad for team cohesion?
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That maybe modelling an international team on the set-piece-heavy Premier League is not going to cut it against even moderately good opposition?
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That Cole Palmer is still actually really good?
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That getting two yellow cards doesn’t necessarily mean you have to then get a red? Manuel Ugarte’s second booking was rescinded, according to the fourth official, after the referee, in full Graham Poll style, seemed to forget to give him a red.
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That Fernando Muslera, 39, still plays in goal for Uruguay? (This was his first cap in four years, to be fair)
“Arguably the worst football match ever played”
That’s how the ever-breezy Barney Ronay described the first 80 minutes of England 1-1 Uruguay at Wembley last night. Ben White scored, was booed and gave away the penalty that Fede Valverde equalised from.
This was un-football, non-sport, an activity that seemed to approach a point of nothingness, no action, no content. All of it soundtracked by the classic Wembley atmosphere, a reminder that there is no more profound silence than the silence of tens of thousands of people.
Read on!
Key fixtures
Here’s what’s coming up today (3pm GMT unless stated):
Women’s Super League
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Everton v Liverpool (12pm)
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Manchester Utd v Manchester City (1.30pm)
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Arsenal v Tottenham (5.30pm)
Men’s internationals (selected)
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South Korea v Côte d’Ivoire (2pm)
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Senegal v Peru (4pm)
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Canada v Iceland (5pm)
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Scotland v Japan (5pm)
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USA v Belgium (7.30pm)
League One
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Blackpool v Burton
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Exeter v Leyton Orient
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Reading v Wigan
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Stockport v AFC Wimbledon
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Wycombe v Port Vale
League Two (selected)
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Harrogate v Notts County (12.30pm)
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Barnet v Cambridge Utd
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Barrow v Bromley
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Salford v MK Dons
Preamble
Right, who’s ready for four hours of England chat? No, I’m just kidding. I think we’d all had enough of football for one day year by the full-time whistle last night. I’ll sift through the main talking points and hopefully find some positives from one of those evenings at Wembley.
In terms of live action, today is mainly about the Women’s Super League. There are three local derbies on offer on Merseyside, in Manchester and north London as the WSL enters its final straight. United v City at Old Trafford has massive consequences for the title race.
On a day fairly light in men’s football (Scotland v Japan aside), I want to hear from you – predictions for the World Cup, reaction to playoff joy/heartache this week or if you’re heading to an EFL game this afternoon, let me know what’s going through your mind by sending us an email.
I’ll also keep you across any news items from the football world, like if another 70-something manager comes out of retirement for one more job.
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