Daniel Sturridge has been ruled out for Wednesday's friendly against Brazil at Wembley. The striker picked up a thigh injury during the game at The Etihad.
The game against Brazil will be a good test for the England squad to see how much the team have progressed and a good way to assess the realistic chances of winning the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil. It will be a great test as Brazil are the favourites to win the tournament therefore if England can pull off a result it will indicate that we are capable of competing with the big guns of International football.
Defoe also withdrew earlier on in the week after sustaining an ankle ligament injury during the win over West Brom. This means that Roy Hodgson only have the United duo - Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck to play up top in the game against Brazil although can play Walcott through the middle after showing that he can deliver there for Arsenal, with his best ever goalscoring season for the Gunners only 25 games into the season.
It is yet to be known whether replacements will be called up. Contenders include Le Fondre, who has arisen as Readings super sub as of late or Ricky Lambert, the reliable Southampton forward.
Prediction: Although I don't want to say it, I feel that England can not currently compete with the power of Brazil, with the great attacking players that they have such as Neymar, Pato and Hulk. With that, they also have great defenders including Thiago Silva and Dani Alves. Judging on England's last performance against a big team, (Italy in the Euros) I don't think they will get one over on the Brazilians. Score Prediction: England 1 - 2 Brazil
Sorry if that let's anyone down but that's what I THINK the score will be, of course I hope for a victory and I hope the lads wearing the Three Lions can prove me wrong! Comment below what you think the score will be.
Also, feedback on my score predictions for Sunday's games:
West Brom vs Spurs
Predicted Score: WBA 0 - 2 Spurs
Actual Score: WBA 0 - 1 Spurs
Manchester City vs Liverpool
Predicted Score: City 1 - 1 Liverpool Actual Score: City 2 - 2 Liverpool
Good predictions from my point of view, got both results right, just a matter of the amount of goals! Claiming a victory there!