With no Chelsea players in the England team that faced France tonight, all our attention was turned on the Blues’ French winger Florent Malouda and the boy did not disappoint.
As one of the elder statesmen of the French side at 30, Malouda proved what we all know – a Chelsea player at international level is a good player.
England were without their usual trio of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole – all injured, JT and Lamps somewhat longer term. Ashley should be okay for the weekend clash away to Birmingham.
But following last week’s debacle against Sunderland, I was not expecting, as the French would say de ja vu.
A depressingly poor England performance saw Wembley’s 85, 485 crowd treated to an almost carbon copy display to that 0-3 defeat.
Malouda was replaced on 76 minutes and should find his confidence restored by this easy French victory over the old enemy.
His measured display and artful trickery had the England defence at sixes and sevens early on.
It was no surprise when striker Karim Benzema tucked home a smart left-footer past a hapless Ben Foster on 16 minutes.
The home side’s inability to get hold of the ball resulted in half-time boos from the fickle crowd and the second half was not much better.
Despite three changes for England, France failed to read then script and scored again on 55 minutes. This time livewire midfielder Mathieu Valbuena tucked home a smart volley from a Bacary Sagna cross.
England scored a consolation goal four minutes from time when Peter Crouch, on less than a minute volleyed home from close range.
But by then all interest had evaporated as there was not a Chelsea presence anywhere to be seen.
What this defeat has proved, as Carlo Ancelotti has found out to his cost, is that class players cannot be replaced with kids and the same level of performance achieved.
Chelsea will be without JT and Alex on Saturday.