Balotelli enjoying the party in Brazil

BRAZIL versus Mexico – or, as Joe Kinnear would have it, Basil versus Texaco.

It’s round two of the Confederations Cup and while the only game anyone’s really interested in is the Spain-Tahiti showdown in Group B, first up is a couple of potentially decent games from Group A.

There’s a bit of a training ground feel to the whole event – though I’d still rather pay good money to watch Andrea Pirlo train than no money at all to watch England play – and even that nice Mario Balotelli looks as though he’s enjoying himself. He’s even gone for a normal haircut.

Still, there are a couple more opportunities for The Firework to blow up and doubtless a few no-nonsense thwacks from the Japanese back four will test his renowned powers of self-discipline.

The reality is that Italy look far too good for Japan and Brazil should be equally too strong for Mexico.

I’m going to do the Italy-Brazil double before trying to figure out a bet for the next England Under-21 gaffer. Personally, I’d like to have an Under-21 in charge – Wilfried Zaha, for example – or maybe Joe Kinnear. I gather he knows plenty about the game and based on a recent radio interview it seems inevitable that he’ll have either signed, coached or fathered just about every member of the squad.

And no, he’s not a laughing stock. Or at least not as funny as the 4-1 Ladbrokes posted up by Michael Appleton, whose claim to fame is a cv laced with failure.

Then again, this is the FA we’re talking about so don’t rule anything out.