While critics bemoan the worthlessness of England friendlies, the increasingly apparent lack of tactical acumen Steve McClaren can call on, and the disinterested performance of those on the pitch, the BBC's coverage of the game served to highlight a current that underpins all of the above.
The plain fact is that the football structure in this country is set up to serve the interests of the big Premiership clubs and no-one else - smaller clubs in the top flight complain of the bias towards the big teams, let alone those in the Championship and lower down.
As romantics can argue that the FA Cup has suffered as a result, there is no doubt that club absolutely comes before country now.
Club bias is inevitable in punditry involving ex-players, and while it could easily be disregarded as banter, it is indicative of a wider problem in the game.
The Beeb's pandering to Shaun Wright-Phillips (because Ian Wrong, Wrong, Wrong was in the studio) was quite frankly pathetic.
The fact that he has turned down moves elsewhere means Wright-Phillips himself is also to blame for his lack of first-team football, and not just that he has been 'overlooked' at Chelsea.
The defence of Peter Crouch from the ex-Liverpool faction was also laughable, despite his palpable inability to play as a lone striker.
Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson's almost total disregard for Fernando Morientes - a striker who has scored goals with great consistency everywhere he has been except in England - was another example of looking at an international game through club spectacles.
The fact that Morientes, whose aerial ability is his best asset, joined the Anfield club when they frequently played without wingers, thus starving him of crosses on which he thrives, was seemingly overlooked.
The financial implications of losing matches at club level are so great that managers and players protect themselves from the irritation of internationals to the detriment of McClaren and his backroom staff.
One benefit of a winter break could be to allow the England players several weeks to train together to create a sense of team unity, rather than the odd few days here and there, but money dictates no such break can ever be.
Most fans, if they are honest, would rather see their club achieve a long overdue success than witness England glory, simply because more time and effort (and money) is spent focusing on your club colours.
The English game sold out a long time ago, and when it checks its receipts it will find the national team.
Turning to betting matters, the FA Cup returns again this weekend and Manchester City's trip to Preston represents on of the few genuine chances of an upset.
City's away form has been largely disappointing this season. Scrappy wins at Sheffield United and West Ham fail to hide their fallability on the road - the 4-0 loss to Wigan was humiliatingly poor.
Preston are riding high in the Championship and although they have been somewhat inconsistent, they can be relied upon to raise their game today.
Paul Simpson's side like to get the ball down and play an attractive passing style, and City could look vulnerable having won just one of their last five Premiership matches.
Tottenham play Fulham in a London derby that many believe could define the North Londoners' season.
Spurs have been something of an enigma this season. They have looked imperious at times at White Hart Lane, but have failed to take anything like that kind of form on the road.
Fulham's home form has been the bedrock of their Premiership survival in recent years, but they have been upset in the Cup at Craven Cottage before, as Leyton Orient can testify.
It is difficult to know which Spurs team will turn up, and a more reliable bet is that they will concede so over 2.5 goals at a generous 11-10 should provide value.
Insight
2pts Preston to beat Man City 17-10 (Paddy Power)
2pts over 2.5 goals Fulham v Tottenham 11-10 (Betfred)
Staking Plan
Min 0.5pt
Max 5pts
*Previous results.
Norwich and Leeds both scored to give us a nice winning 4-5 bet. J Howson opened the scoring for the away side, before the Canaries came storming back to win with Dion Dublin equalising before Darren Huckerby notched the winner.
Peter Grant could not hide his delight at coming from a goal down, and said: "I feel absolutely ecstatic." Maybe he had lumped on both sides scoring as well.
Elsewhere, Middlesbrough and Arsenal only managed two goals between them, thus denying our over 2.5 goals bet, despite the Gunners playing much of the second half with ten men.
Yakubu stroked home a spot-kick past Jens Lehmann - who had previously thrown the ball down like a young girl denied ice cream at her party - before Thierry Henry earned his side a point with a tidy finish after Emmanuel Adebayor's header.
Both sides could have won it, and Boro will feel particularly aggrieved not to have scored more against ten men, but no-one is more aggravated than the author of this column.