When is a match against the Germans ever a friendly? Is that even possible? Despite the fact England played them only a year ago at Fortress Wembley (as unimpregnable as a fort made of pillowcases) and despite the fact that a midweek friendly in November is as well-timed as a Syd Little punchline, the increased expectation level surrounding the national side sees increased interest in a fixture against the traditional nemeses.

Only, nobody seems to be taking it very seriously at all. With the expected departures of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, who had a well-forged note from mother, what we’ve got to face Germany is more of a prefab England squad than ever before. Capello himself seems to be as excited about this fixture as root canal work performed by Larry Olivier, admitting he’s seeing it as a chance to blood kids and second-stringers. He didn’t put it quite like that, but he’s capable of better English than me.

A meagre seventeen percent of the squad currently originate from the top four, with the promise that should there be an injury, it would be better for Lancaster Gate not to bother phoning the North West part of the country or, indeed, the capital. What is in essence an underwhelming and unfamiliar set of 23 shows us exactly the perception of the English game outside of the top four. What would have been, say two years ago, a squad packed with the next best thing and exciting up-and-comers has been reduced to the level of mere substitutes and one-cappers.

But this friendly will be of interest not just to Villa fans, but to anybody who is wondering just how many corners England have got left to turn before they can truly claim to have the strength in depth necessary to bag a major international pot. Under Sven Goran-Eriksson’s reign, it was clear from the outset and became ever more focussed as the years wore on that friendly matches were little more than nods in the appropriate directions. Sven had his favoured squad and nothing was going to make him deviate from that.

Fabio Capello, we’re led to believe, is a different breed and the public eschewing of David Beckham is a major step to underlining that view. Only recently has this site discussed the pros and cons of keeping Beckham within the international fold and Capello has taken the hard line. This is notable if only because it’s been assumed Beckham had a clear path to an England cap record through sentimentality alone. Now, it’s not such a sure thing. Beckham may never find himself near any kind of England squad again.

That’s for the chaps that are beginning their assault on Berlin to decide. Had this game been taken remotely seriously, it’s doubtful there would be the compliment of surprises we see in the media this afternoon. Jimmy Bullard, for example, may never kick a ball in anger for his country even now. But should they impress both management and public, this set of footballers are coming in at exactly the right time to press their claims for a World Cup Finals berth.

The big news, apart from the shock call up for Michael Mancienne, is the inclusion of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who went unwatched against Arsenal on Saturday but made enough of a noise to confirm what many of us already knew – he’s ready to start a full England career. That hasn’t always been the case this season, but as the highest scoring Englishman in the league it’s impossible to ignore the potential.

What Martin O’Neill has done, stealthily, is toughen Agbonlahor up for the travails of international defending. The John Carew lap-dance farrago has been a blessing in disguise for Agbonlahor, who has been largely used as the focal point of a 4-5-1 by Villa in the last five games and has seen his game develop from pace alone, to pace, strength and guile. His combination play with Ashley Young is so potent that Villa have thrown out their traditional tactics book and decide to take a chance on nuisance alone. England can not ignore that Villa spine while it is so white-hot.

Curtis Davies, in addition, has played alongside a real master in Martin Laursen and his defensive game has improved immeasurably. His titanic performance at the Emirates merits a cap just out of recognition, and a player who is capable of outthinking players such as Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Vela should be well capable of taking on Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Mario Gomez, if included, had such a shocker in Euro 2008 it’s hard to imagine him playing effectively for an under-12 side, never mind a national team.

Like most other England friendlies, it won’t be taken at all seriously, and unless the result is farcically one-sided in England’s favour, it’ll be back to the red and blue teams come the spring qualifiers. But Capello has chosen a squad of which at least half have got a chance of featuring in World Cup 2010, if he’s brave enough. What would be the point in ‘trying’ them otherwise? So if Capello picks the team that’s right for him, and not the one that’s right for the national press, we might just be witnessing the last pieces of a World Cup squad being slotted into place.

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