He may not start, and he is on the point of leaving Leeds, but Martin Škrtel’s injury ravaged season will give him hope of a place. and, despite uncertainty over the providers of next season’s pay packet, opposition including a creaky, aging Italy, a dogged but uninspired Paraguay and the likely whipping boys of New Zealand will give cause for confidence. Indeed, Michalík’s grenadier guardsman persona might be just the trick against the lumpen Kiwi trio of Wood, Killen and Fallon, not to mention the less than vintage Azzurri front men, Rossi, Iaquinta and Gilardino, and a Roque Santa Cruz currently down on his luck.

Michalík has been at Elland Road for a few seasons now and survived the trauma of relegation relatively well at first, partnering Paul Huntington in the Peacocks’ first Tier 3 campaign, having initially joined on loan from Bolton (a goal at Stamford Bridge having provided the highlight of his spell as a Trotter.) But, Simon Grayson lost patience in time and the Čadca born player has generally been forced to make way for Patrick Kisnorbo and Richard Naylor in subsequent months. Still, involvement in more than credible whites performances against Man Yoo and Spurs this season augurs well for a manager looking for big game temperaments. Big Lubo may be leaving Yorkshire but he has a chance of a South African get out clause.