BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Dutch masterclass will give proper perspective

ROONEY’S out, now Darren Bent’s done his ankle, but luckily for England fans, Danny Welbeck is poised for his big moment.

Fresh from a Ronnie Rosenthal of a miss in the dying moments at Carrow Road on Sunday, the United striker is ready to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who has paid full price for a ticket for Wednesday night’s friendly.

Rent-a-mob got this game called off when it was supposed to be played back in August; even they’ve decided to stayoff the streets this time around to allow the inevitable humiliation of Psycho’s lads to run its course. After all, why nick a telly when the only thing on is England?

Anyway, it’s probably best that we get this fixture out of the way. It makes sense finding out sooner rather than later that Stuart Pearcehasn’t got a clue – or ‘scooby doo’ to quote Paul Merson – rather than having to wait for the main event. That gives someone at the FA a bit of time to panic. Would Harry honestly swap Spurs for this lot?

The bet’s Holland, isn’t it? I remembering saying much the same when Spain came to town and they let me down but England can’t get that lucky again, not with this squad.

I hate international friendlies. Who’s off, who’s not; who cares, who doesn’t. They’re about as pointless as Noel Edmonds but obviously I feel compelled to have a bet or it just seems like a waste of an evening.

At decent prices, howabout the Americans in Italy, who will go through the motions, and Belgium in Greece. The Greeks could do with something to cheer right now but I reckon Belgium are on the up.