And there it is, international football in all its glory. England v Iceland in Tirana, Albania, in a clash that has already been described as — to borrow a line from Mitchell and Webb — on next Wednesday.
Why? What the hell? Truly, is there any scenario more ludicrous than England’s players, already reeling exhausted from the hectic start to the season, flying more than 1,500 miles across the continent to fulfil a schedule for a competition that seems less relevant with every passing day?
By the time the plane departs it is possible this will be the deadest of rubbers.