Playing the world champions, a team currently favourites to retain the World Cup in Russia next summer, is therefore hardly ideal for Gareth Southgate and co.
Yes, the Germans do have their own injury issues – Thomas Muller, Marco Reus and regular left-back Jonas Hector all miss out here – but then again the players they’ve been able to bring into the fold include World Cup winner Mario Gotze and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan. England they are not.
A look at their World Cup qualifying campaign helps prove what the hosts will be up against – 10 games, 10 wins, 43 goals scored. And those 43 goals were scored by 21 different players. There’s squad depth for you.
OK, this remains a friendly but England v Germany clashes are usually pretty competitive whatever the situation and it should also be remembered the World Cup is now just seven months away.
Germany seem highly unlikely to be fielding an entirely second-string team but even if they do, it’s worth taking a quick look back at last summer when a virtual reserve side won the Confederations Cup.
It’s not a particularly original bet – and certainly not one for those who like a patriotic punt – but backing Germany really should reap rewards.
At the risk of repeating myself, there looks to be a gulf in class in this one.
France could send two very good squads to the World Cup, were they allowed to, and both would be competitive. Wales, on the other hand, have failed to get their first-choice men to Russia.
Gareth Bale missed last month’s crucial showdown with the Republic of Ireland which they lost 1-0 in Cardiff to dash their World Cup qualification hopes. He’s absent again for this friendly, as are Hal Robson-Kanu and Jonny Williams.
The reality of Welsh football is that when some of their leading names withdraw, Chris Coleman has to turn to clubs like Barnsley to call up Ryan Hedges and Lloyd Isgrove.
Against opponents who are challenging for World Cup favouritism, that isn’t going to cut it.
France won one of the toughest European qualifying groups, losing only once (in the last minute) as they saw off Sweden and the Netherlands to reach the finals.
Some will point out they failed to beat Luxembourg at home but they was very much the exception rather than the rule. Other home games were all won, including a 4-0 thrashing of the Netherlands and a 4-1 beating of Bulgaria.