It's the International Friendly week with everyone playing everyone else in what you could argue is pointless venture. However this time around, the G-d of fixtures has conjured up a couple of games that could have some deeper relevance.
Yesterday, 5 time champions Brazil took on 4 time champions and current World Cup holders Italy at Ashburton Grove, North London. The Samba Boys beat the Azzurri 2-0 with goals from Robinho and Elano in a game filled with skill, tricks and poor defending. But for me, the most interesting thing that came out of the game was the Italy coach, Marcello Lippi's statement after the game that "Brazil are better than Italy". His post match press conference surrounded what he called a period of rebuilding for the Italy squad and Brazil's current supremacy. Although he conceded the difference between the two teams at the moment, he finished by replying "But we'll have to see in a year and a half. We could be stronger."
Tonight see's England Vs. Spain in Seville, and in that we will see how far Fabio Capello has actually taken England in his tenure as they take on the current European champions in their own backyard. Unlike most other friendlies, this game should be more spiced up than others for a few reasons. Firstly, Spain being the defending European champions, will want to keep their momentum going into the next qualifying rounds until ultimately, the next World Cup for a chance to win the trophy for the first time. And there are also two very good reasons for England to want to play to the best of their abilities. With the fresh intake of uncapped and fringe players in this English squad as well as injuries to 'key' players, this is their chance to shine on the international level and book their place on the English flight to South Africa 2010. But what may also be a huge incentive to play Spain off the park will be to counter the racist abuse the black members of the team received when England played in Madrid back in 2004. Racism is almost obsolete in English football compared to years gone by. It's only isolated incidents like the Tottenham fans towards Sol Campbell at the start of this season that make the headlines these days. And due to the rarity of such an incidence, these so called fans are now in the middle of a court case surrounding the event. So when the English players were tormented because of the colour of their skin when they were last in Spain, it was a nasty shock to most of them and the players that are still in the squad from that night will use this opportunity to stick one back to the mindless Spanish thugs.
So anywho, we saw a great game last night and we no doubt see further fireworks tonight as the 3 Lions take on an awesome Spanish side and if he plays, David Beckham will equal Bobby Moore's record 108 caps for an outfield player...
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