QUICK QUIZ 1. Lionesses’ French test
In which year did Wayne Rooney make his first-team debut for Everton?
2. LeBron James plays for which NBA team?
3. Who won the 2020 World Snooker Championship?
4. Which sport do England Saxons play?
5. What nationality is Formula One driver Sergio Perez?
ENGLAND WOMEN will play France away on April 9 before taking on Canada at Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium four days later.
The friendly against France in Caen will be the Lionesses’ second fixture under interim boss Hege
Riise (right), following the 6-0 win over Northern Ireland at St George’s Park last month.
Riise said: “I am looking forward to taking the team to play France.
“We all know they are one of the best in the world. We have to use every opportunity to learn and improve, as individuals and as a group.”
WHO could not possibly have enjoyed this exhibition?
Who could not possibly have loved the way Kevin De Bruyne’s wrong foot rapped one in off the underside of the crossbar (above)? Always looks better, that.
Who could not have smiled at Phil Foden’s Messi-style control, turn, surge and reverse, no-look pass for Ilkay Gundogan’s formality?
Who could not like footballing works of art?
Hard to think of anyone, really.
But maybe, from his substitute’s seat, Raheem Sterling (right) was not as dreamily content as most viewers.
First things first, it is impossible to suggest anything remotely negative in this lovely cakewalk.
But when everyone salivates about Manchester City standards AND the remarkable depth of quality on the bench, there is one, significant long-term challenge for Pep Guardiola.
And that is keeping every one of these supremely talented players content.
Some will have a mentality to deal with the rotation but others might not. My guess is Sterling is in the latter group.
Nothing wrong with that, at all, and when the fight is on four fronts, there will be plenty of shifts to be done.
And Sterling was quick to take to social media and laugh off suggestions of disharmony after he was an unused substitute for the 5-2 win over Southampton. And then not even bussed to London for the win at Craven Cottage.
Guardiola also poured scorn on the idea of disquiet.
But when City produce passages of play such as the ones they did early in this game, a watching Sterling would be forgiven for feeling uneasy.
Unthinkable as the question sounds, does Sterling, in his current form, make Guardiola’s best XI?
He made it for the Manchester derby and had a frustrating time.
Without him, City have quickly returned to freescoring ways.
He came on for 20 minutes when this tie was long settled and, of course, Sterling will be a key player in the pursuit of a quadruple.
But he is now one of the massed ranks who must patiently wait their starting turn.
And that, as much as the excellence on the field here, tells you all that is needed to know about this formidable City machine.