This week's international friendlies

When England face Holland in Wednesday's Friendly at Villa Park, they will do so without arguably the best four central defenders in the Premiership - John Terry, Ledley King, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell - all of whom are unavailable for the fixture.

However, this is offset by the fact that Holland will be without key marksman Ruud Van Nistelrooy and the irrepressible playmaker Arjen Robben.

My, how times have changed for the Dutch - two players absent and they look a depleted side. What happened to the days when they had real strength in depth? The days of Gullit, the Koeman brothers, Rijkaard and Van Basten - it all seems like a diminishing memory.

That said, England's recent performances, for the most part, have not exactly been scintillating; they looked decidedly lacklustre when completely outplayed and beaten 1-0 by Spain in a friendly held at the Bernabeu last November.

But, overall, they look like a far more capable outfit than the Dutch at present, so the 5-4 offered about a home victory is worth taking.

England's attack, bolstered by the call up of Crystal Palace's hit man Andy Johnson, looks strong. Jermaine Defoe, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney complete what is a formidable book of in-form strikers.

The midfielders at Sven's disposal also feature a wealth of goal-scoring potential. If the strikers fail to make the net rattle behind Fulham and Holland keeper Edwin van der Sar, then the likes of Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Steven Gerrard will be on hand to deliver the end product.

Elsewhere on the International coupon, South Africa should be backed at 11/8 to defeat Australia. Managed by Scot Stuart Baxter, the Spring Boks have had some impressive results of late, and in fact lead the race to qualify for 2006 in their African zone group.

Nevertheless, such is the fickle nature of the South African football association at times (11 coaches in the last 12 years); Baxter cannot afford to take any game lightly. We can be sure the South Africans will go all out for victory.

Finally, Germany look poised to end a 4-year long wait with a victory against a major football nation. Since the last World Cup, the Germans have to the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and France. However a recent match against the World Cup winners finished level.

That result against Brazil along with the appointment of Juergen Klinsmann appears to have rejuvenated German football somewhat of late. The German coach sees the match against Argentina as a crucial test for Germany, and it is one we believe they can pass.