Colin Sheridan: After age of empire, England’s new faces more than acceptable

England manager Gareth Southgate speaks to his players during a training session at St George's Park. Picture: Nick Potts/PA

When you aim to build an empire so vast the sun will never set on it, one of the — perhaps unintended — consequences will be the cultivation of a few sporting rivalries that provide soundtracks to our summers.

Forget the slaughter and the slavery, it was all worth it just to have Curtley Ambrose bowl a few yorkers at Michael Atherton. Successive wars with France always ensured an antipathy between England and their near neighbours; the enduring legacy of the bloody frogs and les rosbifs. Yes, it was all worth it for the Ashes and the Volvo Ocean Race. Really, we should be thankful. The juice may have been just worth the bloody squeeze in South Africa, otherwise there would be no Lions tour! Such foresight.