Another Unfortunate Premiership Break

It's on weeks like this that you wished football returned to some golden halcyon days of muddy pitches, Bobby Charlton, a consecutive competitive league season, and England just had to play their neighbours before the summer break in the Home Internationals. But tv, cheap air travel and desire for more money from more games means yet another two week break for internationals.

A useless friendly in the Ernst Happel Stadion on Friday - Austria v. England (Sky Sports 1, 2000h). What's that about? All eyes at the weekend will be on the Israel v. Russia result still hoping for that slim glimmer of hope that a home win will give England a chance of qualifying. The other game is Scotland v. Italy. A home win will mean we'll have the cliche tv footage of men in kilts, funny hats and bagpipes beamed onto your screen next summer's finals.

I'll return to this subject in March 2008 when it's France v. England in a game nobody needs, yet another useless friendly at Stade de France. Get the excuses ready so United don't have to send any players to Paris.