THE prestigious friendly against Germany has lurched into the realms of farce.

With six of Fabio Capello’s first-choice side “injured”, England are heading to Berlin with a scratch side and are likely to get what Terry Butcher rightly wanted to give to Diego Maradona - a spanking.

It makes you question why such a big friendly is played in the middle of a packed programme?

Why didn’t we take on a lesser nation to blood the young players like Michael Mancienne and not one of the powerhouses of world football?

It’s not the best circumstances in which to make your bow for your country and one that could have a detrimental effect on the new boys.

The FA went to great pains to stress just how injured the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are. And the papers are full of stories that Liverpool are furious for making their skipper travel to the team hotel to be assessed by Capello’s medical staff. Oh bless him!

The injured German players have to report to the squad as a matter of course and must be at the game. So even though Michael Ballack is injured, he will be at the game where as Messers Rooney, Ferdinand et al will be tucked up at home flicking between I’m a Celebrity and the match and nursing their injuries.

I wonder if they’ll be fit for the next round of Premier League games?