It is only friendly matches against Brasil and Belgium but surely England need to build a platform for Bellingham to roam. The imperious athlete Rice can do a lot but not everything and Henderson has experience and accompanying decline. Gallagher and Maddison are forward looking talent not engine room battlers.

So Kalvin Philips sits it out having had Manchester Citys Guardiola wreck his football and Southgate says he’s not in form. It feels like a mistake.

We need a base to unleash Saka, Foden, Rashford, Bellingham and Palmer. Rice needs a number two to help with the leg work. If not Kalvin, who ?

Never mind. Wembley friendlies can be toothless affairs but Brasil will always carry the worlds best team tag. Belgium are a good team. It should be high quality football.

It has been a rain drenched month in England. There are grey skies and unease as conflicts from around the world fill our streets with flags and banners. In London Arsenal are flying and Klopps last stand in Liverpool looks magnificent. Manchester City have everything and everybody.

Sometimes football really matters. Sort of.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).

Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City).

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), James Maddison (Tottenham), Declan Rice (Arsenal).

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Marcus Rashford (Man United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).