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Officially, tomorrow's game between England and Brazil in Qatar is a friendly, designed to help Fabio Capello prepare for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa. The truth is the result England are really looking for won't necessarily be on the football pitch, but behind the scenes as the bid for the 2018 World Cup moves into a critical stage.
Today Lord Triesman claimed England's bid remains "hard to beat" despite slashing six members off the committee after reports of a damaging divide in opinion on how the campaign is progressing.
Manchester United chief executive David Gill, former Birmingham director Karren Brady, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe, Sir Keith Mills, Sir Martin Sorrell and Simon Johnson have all been axed from the group as the decision-making process is streamlined.
Triesman, who will now attempt to garner support among the Government by holding weekly meetings with Sutcliffe, said: "I have always felt that the fundamentals of the organisation were sound, but I did think that so many distractions were making the bigger picture invisible. It is a bit depressing if lots of extraneous circumstances are making the job harder and it has some times felt like that.
"The Premier League have made a clear statement backing the bid, and it is very gratifying to have reached a point where people are pulling in the same direction."
The changes also include the creation of an advisory board understood to have the chief role of monitoring Triesman's direction of the 2018 campaign. The advisory group will be comprised of Brady, Gill, Sutcliffe, Sorrell and Mills.
Hugh Robertson, Tory Shadow Sports Minister, said: "I strongly believe, having studied the events of the past year, that the bid needs a board based on football rather than political expertise and dedicated to securing the key international votes. I think they need to refine the message so that the global football community is clear what a 2018 World Cup in England really means."
At the heart of the crisis is the failure to realise that the public rhetoric that surrounds such campaigns has nothing to do with the grubby reality of actually winning the prize.
Such bids may be presented as finely honed ventures which could not only bring the country sporting glory but also benefit it economically and socially.
The reality is that the economic benefits of such events are hard to quantify. England's last major football event, Euro 96, did not bring any economic benefits and the process to get a World Cup is more like an election to become a member of a local golf club rather than a general election.
The public waffle may be about the quality of the stadiums the transport facilities and the passion and support for the game in the country. The real decision is based on making deals with key members of the 24-man FIFA executive who decide.
And their views are often based on what helps football in their own region if not their personal standing in the game, rather than on any grand issues.
The restructuring of the board should address a few problems. While it will still be led by Lord Triesman, the FA chairman who has been under attack for bringing in too many of his political friends particularly his fellow peers, it will, for the first time, include his predecessor at Soho Square, Geoff Thompson.
He has been sulking in Sheffield, upset he was forced off as chairman six months before he was due to go and also for not being made a member of the board. This was always ridiculous given he is Britain's only representative on the FIFA executive.
The restructured board will also address a complaint I have heard that there is no single identifiable bid leader.
Unlike Germany's successful 2006 campaign led by Franz Beckenbauer or London 2012's Olympic bid led by Lord Coe English football does not have a great athlete who could change from track suit to lounge suit.
But the hope is Andy Anson, while schooled in marketing, could prove to be like Mills a businessman whose skills in wooing members of the IOC helped secure London's 2012 victory. Anson's first test will come in Qatar. It is the home of Mohammed Bin Hammam a FIFA executive member who likes English football.
He was brought up in Liverpool and his country has its own 2022 World Cup ambitions. Helping him stage a prestigious Brazil v England match will do England's standing no harm.
Then there is the South American vote. That continent has three FIFA executive members. The word is Spain, one of England's strongest rivals from Europe, with its historic links with that part of the world, has secured them but while John Terry and company tussle with Kaka and co, off the field Anson and his team will be hoping to detach the Brazilians from Spain.
The campaign has 13 months to go but it is clear no country will win on the first ballot. The game at this stage is to make sure you survive the first round and for that England need five or six votes. If they can get the three South American ones or at least put a dent in Spain's hopes that would be tremendous boost.
Player to watch - Kaka (Brazil)
The 26-year-old is no stranger to the spotlight but will appreciate the chance to escape the intensity of club football for a few days — and that can only be bad news for England. Kaka has had a difficult time since he made his big-money move from AC Milan to Real Madrid in the summer. His performances for the Spanish giants have yet to justify the £59million price tag and he suffered the ignominy of being part of the team that were knocked out of the Spanish Cup by third-tier outfit Alcorcon this week. Inevitably, there is a great deal of pressure on Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini as well as the players right now. So Kaka will undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to join up with his Brazil team-mates in Qatar and take some of his frustration out on England.
Team news
England will be fielding an under-strength back four, with Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole all ruled out through injury. Keeper Robert Green is expected to return following suspension and with David James left behind to work on his fitness. Fabio Capello is also without Steven Gerrard (groin) and David Beckham, who has stayed in the USA to help LA Galaxy in the MLS play-offs, so James Milner is in line to make his first start. Strikers Emile Heskey (back) and Carlton Cole (hamstring) are also missing. Brazil centre-backs Luisao and Juan have withdrawn but keeper Doni is fit after a knee problem. Palermo midfielder Fabio Simplicio has also been called up to replace Ramires (leg).
