England are certainties to beat Israel this afternoon.

Despite the injuries, despite having Steve McClaren as our hapless manager and despite a squad that includes David James and Michael Carrick, England will win.

Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of fuss made about the number of first team regulars that are sidelined for today’s crucial match.

I know. I was one of those making the fuss.

But, if you think about it in real terms, what exactly are we talking about here? We are talking about a star-studded England team, playing in their fantastic new home, against opponents who are, at their peak, little more than average.

I am not knocking Israel. They are a dogged and determined bunch of players with one or two genuinely talented and skillful ball players. But they are not in the same league as England.

And that’s the simple truth. Fact. Indisputable.

So England are without the undoubted skills of Rooney, Beckham and Lampard. But even without those key players there should still be more than enough strength in depth in the squad to brush aside Israel.

The defence is at full strength with Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Micah Richards all fit and raring to go. And a midfield which should include the likes of Steven Gerrard (he will play, you watch), Joe Cole, Shaun Wright Philips and Owen Hargreaves (probably) is hardly weak.

Up front Michael Owen is back on form and a partnership with the solid – if unremarkable – Heskey could be just what the football doctor ordered: a tried, trusted and traditional little and large strike force.

Rooney is a brilliant player but his strike rate for England in recent years makes Heskey’s shine in comparison. Wayne hasn’t really delivered for England yet and, on that basis alone, how can his absence be so disastrous.

In short, I’m fed up with the excuses. That team I have just picked - which I imagine will be pretty close to the starting line-up - is more than capable of giving a team like Israel a good hiding.

Even without the injured and suspended stars there will still be a couple of hundred million pounds of talent turning out for the three lions this afternoon compared to an Israeli team which is worth 40 million tops. If you throw in the bus.

England will win today. England have to win today. Anything less is simply unacceptable. No excuses.

Malta-Turkey

Meanwhile, closer to home, there is another big football match tonight when Malta’s gradually improving national team take on the Turks.

Full marks to that bunch of hardcore supporters who have taken it upon themselves to promote this match – there is a genuine sense of expectation building.

Their task has been made easier by the historical links between our two countries - if you can call repelling an invasion a ‘link’. And that will certainly add some spice to the encounter.

And I have to say I absolutely love the use of the Knights on the billboards. Quality marketing.

As for the match itself, on paper the Turks should have more than enough about them to beat our lads.

But who knows, with a siege mentality, a partisan crowd behind them and a little bit of self-belief, our boys are capable of spring a surprise.

New Premier League record

The English Premier League is about to set a new record – a disturbing one.

On Saturday 6 October, only one match will take place at the traditional time of 3pm. Their will be one other game that day, at 12.45 pm with the other eight matches that make up the weekend programme all moved to Sunday.

There are three main reasons for this bizarre schedule – clubs playing in Europe on the Thursday before, one match that has been moved for policing reasons and a whole bunch of them that have been shifted to accommodate television.

Fans groups have slammed the schedule as ludicrous. Malcolm Clarke of the Football Supporters’ Federation has described it as a ‘dark weekend’ for fans.

“It’s symbolic of the way things are going but the views of the match-going fan seem to bottom of the list of priorities,” he said.

Well Malcolm, I think you will find fans have long been bottom of the list. It’s just now that it is really beginning to show…

Contact James on: [email protected]