England play Russia in Marseilles, 11 Saturdays from now

That’s our next game : 8pm in the Stade Velodrome.

Saturday , June 11th, in Group B.

After that we play Wales, then Slovakia

Germany v England is a friendly I’ll write about here by 4pm.

Since his abject failure in the World Cup, Roy Hodgson’s England have qualified well and now play a few friendlies, which we take more seriously than many nations.

But I tend to see a bigger picture and, especially, a longer picture.

I usually look backwards before I look forward.

In Brazil 2014, Hodgson lost his first two games.

And drew 0-0 with Costa Rica, who won our Group.

WE DIDN’T WIN A GAME.

I was disgusted that Hodgson didn’t take Ashley Cole.

And furious that he tweaked Rooney’s positon in the second game, instead of leaving Raheem where he was playing well :