Not so much friendly as a complete waste of time

By Paul Berry on Feb 6, 08 10:02 AM

O-k this isn't strictly about Wolves, but am I the only one who really doesn't give a monkey's about England's friendly with Switzerland tonight?

Really doesn't give a stuff about whether Michael Owen plays, which formation England adopt, and who appears in goal?

Perhaps there's a smidgeon of interest in the fact that it's Fabio Capello's first game at the helm, and I'm sure Villa fans will be keen to see how their players fare if they get an opportunity.

But international friendlies simply bore the pants off me. (Like they did for Paddy Ashdown so I'm told).

The only time I get excited is for the real deal, qualifying matches or the big tournaments, which lest we forget we're not going to be at this summer.

No amount of meaningless friendlies can make up for that.

I remember actually going to Villa Park for Sven's first friendly which admittedly was a half decent game and a half decent victory against Spain. But did we ever win anything or even get to a major semi final under Sven? Did we boat.

So Capello has axed Beckham? Might leave Michael Owen on the bench? So what. It's decisions he takes for the proper games and how England perform on them that will light my fire.

We could win 5-0 in a blaze of marvellous attacking football tonight and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Do it when it matters - Germany in 2001 for example - and then I'll sit up and take notice.

Equally we could lose 5-0 and the tabloids could call for Capello's head tomorrow morning and I'd remain completely unmoved.

International friendlies? Waste of time.

Do you know what? I might watch the minute's silence for the victims of Munich and then turn over for Coronation Street instead.