Thomas Tuchel has already picked his England squad to face Andorra and Senegal, with the first game being a World Cup qualifier and the second a friendly.
Is a post-season friendly beneficial?
There's a school of thought that, with so many matches being played almost year-round these days that having friendlies shortly after a gruelling season benefits no one.
One can only assume that the money banked from such games makes them worthwhile, or else there truly is no logical reason why they would go ahead.
Even if the Senegal game was seen as an opportunity for Tuchel to have a look at those players who wouldn't necessarily be a first choice, the timing of the match is, frankly, ridiculous.
First senior call-up for Chalobah
That won't be an issue for Trevoh Chalobah after he was handed a first senior call-up for the pair of games.
At the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the 25-year-old was loaned by Chelsea to Crystal Palace, but the Blues decided to bring him back to Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window.
It was a wise decision given that Chalobah has been in fine form since. An 80% tackle success rate, 33 interceptions and 66 headed clearances have all contributed to the centre-back really finding his feet at the top level, with the senior call-up capping off a wonderful season for the player.
It's also worth mentioning that he's won back possession on 113 occasions and contributed just two errors that have led to a goal.
Though a starting spot in either game isn't assured, of course, it would make little sense to bring Chalobah into the fold only to sit him on the subs bench.
Time for Trafford?
One or both games might also provide Burnley's James Trafford with the perfect opportunity to stake his claim for a start ahead of Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson.
The Clarets' keeper made 88 saves across the season with a superb 84.5 save percentage, saved both penalties he faced and had a perfect 100% accuracy for his keeper sweepings.
Not to forget that he also set a club record for most minutes without conceding a goal, reaching 1,000 minutes by February 2025.
His 29 clean sheets in 44 games played equalled the record for the most ever in a single season in English football, whilst 12 clean sheets in a row was a new Championship record too.
Hendo still a main man for Tuchel
As with Chalobah, these two games represent a chance for the head coach to avail himself of all of the talent he has available - rather than routinely sticking to the tried and tested.
That said, Three Lions stalwart Jordan Henderson can celebrate getting into another England squad, ahead of a potential return to Sunderland this summer.
Tuchel has spoken passionately before about what 'Hendo' brings to the national team in terms of standards and a certain way of working, so anyone believing that his call-up is a waste of a place in the 26-man squad is barking completely up the wrong tree.
He may not make it into the starting XI ahead of the likes of Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer or Declan Rice, but it's clear that his experience is invaluable to the England set-up.
Ivan Toney back in the fold
Ivan Toney is also recalled, and for the first time under Tuchel, after a season over in Saudi Arabia, where he has scored 30 goals and provided four assists in 44 games for Al Ahli.
As with Henderson, he's unlikely to start, but if the Three Lions are looking for decent hold-up play and someone who knows where the goal is, Toney will almost certainly play some part late on.
Real Madrid-bound Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as Conor Gallagher, Bukayo Saka, and Noni Madueke, have all joined a Tuchel England squad for the first time, whilst Harry Kane, fresh from his first-ever domestic title triumph, will lead the line and the squad as always.
The balance appears to be just right too.
Good balance of youth and experience
There's a mixture of youth and experience as well as exciting and somewhat unpredictable players in Eberechi Eze and Palmer, alongside the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Declan Rice, Bellingham et al, that will really put in a shift.
By having those players to anchor the midfield and protect the defence, it gives the others licence to get forward and get creative, and, as importantly, to be able to play their natural game.
There's surely nothing worse than tempering the pride of a national team call-up with the knowledge that your skill set is being shoe-horned into a way of playing that isn't conducive to getting the best out of you.
In any event, and with the greatest respect to Albania, Latvia, Serbia and Andorra, England should qualify from their group with ease.
Thomas Tuchel will be counting on it.
