Like political pundits on local election night, football reporters can’t help reading too much into the results of international friendlies.

Pretty much the least interesting thing about England’s error-strewn 2-1 win over Germany in Berlin on Wednesday was the result, but there was food for thought in the performances of two under-strength teams.

1. England seem to bat quite a lot deeper than they used to, with a number of the players coming in doing good jobs. Barry and Carrick easily won their midfield battle with Rolfes and Jones, while Wright-Philiips was probably the best player in the pitch. Time for the Gerrard-Lampard partnership to be definitively retired?

2. England have never been short of confidence in the ability of their players as individuals, but what seems to be developing now is a collective confidence, which showed itself in the patient way they exercised control in the first half. (more…)

It seems even the most experienced players can forget that criticising your coach in the media pretty much always backfires.

Germany captain Michael Ballack has backed down and offered an apology after he angered coach Joachim Loew by suggesting in a newspaper interview that senior players were not being treated with enough respect.

“I will sit down with Loew as soon as my injury permits and apologise for my behaviour,” the Chelsea midfielder said on Sunday.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos spent Sunday evening “sucking the bench” (as they say in Spain) after he used an interview with As newspaper to express his dissatisfaction with coach Bernd Schuster and said the club lacked a truly influential player. (more…)