It is always hard to extract firm evidence from a spring friendly but in a World Cup year no opportunity can go to waste. For those on the fringes, one good performance, supplemented with continued strong club form, can be the route to Nations League action in June; excel there and a seat on the plane to Doha could be reserved.
That was the mentality expected from Ben White, Marc Guehi and Conor Gallagher from the start against Switzerland this evening and Tyrick Mitchell during an improved second half.
For Guehi and White this was a tricky assignment in which they would have been hoping for a little better. Mitchell did alright in his half hour but will be more than aware of the competition at full back. And Gallagher produced the most striking performance of the four.
