Would you pay to watch Arsenal’s first team play Rochdale’s reserves at Old Trafford? No, neither would I. So just why did 56,290 punters shell out good money for such a non-event when England took on the might of Andorra? And how many Englishmen who tuned in to watch on the telly had the slightest clue where Andorra was prior to the tourist information fed to them by commentators, who knew that such gems would be far more exciting than the match?

Just why no-one other than Wenger has spoken up about the ludicrous state of international football is something I find amazing. It is just such a total waste of time and energy for even halfway decent Club players to play for their country.

Thankfully though most European fans seemingly have more sense than to actually attend these games. This was evidenced by the thirteen games that managed a pitiful average attendance of less than 12,000 per match. Granted the other six games attracted over 50,000 at each, but how weird was that when you consider that the opposition at these matches included such high flying opponents as Lietchenstein, the Faero Islands, Lithuania and Andorra.

International football is now just a sad joke that makes no sense. What’s worse is that indirectly we the fans are financing this farce as it’s the Clubs we support who provide the services of their players free of charge. What’s next? Will the Isle of Wight claim independence and be recognised by UEFA and FIFA?

Mind you for all its totally farcical qualities I admit that I’ll still be rooting for the Faeros’ in their return leg against the Jocks and I’d love Cyprus to beat the Germans. But I wouldn’t even walk to the bottom of my back garden to watch either game.