PARIS: Captain Steven Gerrard is expected to win his 100th England cap in today’s friendly against Sweden
The England-sweden match is one of the several high-profile European friendlies set for today but friendly would not be the term to be used with how they have been viewed by hard-pressed club managers.
The 2006 World Cup final rematch of France and victors Italy, Germany taking on old rivals the Netherlands and England playing Sweden in a rematch of their thrilling Euro 2012 clash where the English prevailed 3-2 would normally have great appeal.
The Dutch will also have to do without a United star in the English Premier League’s joint leading scorer Robin van Persie, who pulled out because of injury despite showing no signs of it in playing the entire match in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. The Germans - who are seeking to put behind them memories of letting slip a 4-0 lead over the Swedes in their World Cup qualifier last month and being held to a 4-4 draw - will also have to improvise up front as Mario Gomez is still coming back from injury and veteran Miroslav Klose picked up an injury at the weekend.
Joachim Loew is likely to put Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus up front and whilst club managers may denigrate the worth of the friendlies they will not find German manager Oliver Bierhoff a sympathetic listener.
“France coach Didier Deschamps has little time for the modern day footballer - his predecessors in the national hotseat Raymond Domenech and Laurent Blanc would probably concur - saying last month they were the ‘Why? generation’. AFP
