Set course to pointlessness.

England faced a clearly understrength Platinum Stars FC in a final warm up friendly earlier today, and won 3-0. The usually top notch South African giants played a poor game. Jermain Defoe slotted home inside 5 minutes, leaving Platinum Stars in the dust. Englands game plan had unsettled the world reknowned Gods of African football. A chance of an instant reply was scuppered, as the Stars blasted a penalty over the bar. Joe Hart, chosen over Goalkeeping rivals Robert Green and David James, had little to do in the 45 minutes he played. As the first half drew to a close, a barrage of broken Vuvuzelas flew onto the pitch at the Stars players. The fans were visibly disappointed with the standard of football.
A new half, a new team. No little that 8 substitutions from King Capello, including the arrival of Wayne Rooney and the debut of Michael Dawson, saw England galvanize themselves and pin the Stars back. A wonderfully woven attack, starting with Wazza, saw Joe Cole find the net. Tens of mundane minutes later, Rooney found the net from 20 yards out. 3-0, good night South Africa.
What can we take from this very, very, very important match? Well, an indication of the team that will start against the U.S.A on Saturday. Joe Cole played the entire game, which indicates a start for him, and Joe Hart started, making him the only goalkeeper to play in all 3 of Englands warm up friendlys. That, however, is just an observation. If Iwere the England manager, this is who would start on Saturday: Hart, Johnson, King, Terry, Ashley Cole, Milner, Gerrard, Lampard, Joe Cole, Rooney, Defoe.

In todays installment on "injury watch", good news all round, to be honest. Upson and King both started, Drogba claims his arm surgery was a success, Altidore is back in training and Robben's set to make the world cup. That seems to be it.

Thats all for today. Slow day for world cup news today. The match reports will be better during the tournament. We'll take notes and that. Also, read what Adam wrote earlier. It makes you think something chronic, and it really is very good. Til tomorrow, my friends.

-Tom