💥 Read this insightful post from BBC Sport 📖
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✅ Here’s what you’ll learn:
Before the start of the UEFA Nations League, the England men’s team regularly arranged matches against countries from all over the world. But friendly matches are now relatively rare, with England having played just 14 since the 2018 World Cup, compared to 37 in the seven years before that.
The England women’s team has more freedom.
Before the 2019 Women’s World Cup, they managed to play 11 friendly matches, including test matches against Sweden, Brazil (twice), USA and Spain.
Ahead of the 2023 tournament, they played nine matches against opponents of different powers, as well as the final against Brazil.
They reached the semi-finals in 2019 and the final in 2023.
Should the men’s team look to organize matches against major nations, or against nations that play in a similar style to their World Cup opponents?
Ideally, you can do both. Prior to the 2018 World Cup, England played the Netherlands and Italy (who failed to qualify) in March before facing Nigeria and Costa Rica – as immediate preparation for group stage matches against Tunisia and Panama.
But England need to balance two types of preparations, and consider potential opponents in the knockout stages as well.
They have not faced a South American team since a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in March 2024.
They have not faced a team from Asia (except for a friendly match against Australia in October 2023) or CONCACAF since matches against Iran and the United States in the 2022 World Cup.
The draw will be the guide, but Uruguay (15th) will offer the opportunity to play a South American team and be their strongest rivals for two years. Japan, now ranked 19th, is the leading country in Asia.
However, you can’t help but wonder if England might miss out on a real test of the top level before the World Cup.
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