It is fair to say that England are not the most compelling story of this March international break. A pair of Wembley friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast are useful preparation for Gareth Southgate and his players given that there are only two more get-togethers before the World Cup later this year, but whatever storylines emerge, they are likely to be dwarfed by the drama of the play-offs.
While the stakes could not have felt higher in Cardiff, Porto and Palermo on Thursday night, much of the jeopardy at Wembley over the coming days will be over whether Kyle Walker-Peters debuts at left-back or right-back. The actual football will be inconsequential beyond a bit of pre-tournament experimentation, the results just a footnote in what could otherwise be a historic year.
