By Charles Sale
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England's kit suppliers Nike will be cashing in on Roy Hodgson's team going to the World Cup next summer by bringing out an unprecedented four national team shirts in less than a year.
Nike, who only launched new home and away England kits last May are intending to produce two more strips ahead of the tournament.
New look: Nike are set to release to more England kits ahead of next year's World Cup, despite the current home strip only being out since May
There was public upset at Nike doubling up with their new shirts at the end of last season. And England fans, despite the euphoria of reaching the World Cup finals, will not be happy at forking out again so soon for another set of home and away jerseys.
Nike took over the 25m-a-year England shirt contract from their subsidiary company Umbro whom they have subsequently sold off — despite the contracted promise Umbro would remain England kit suppliers until 2018.
A Nike spokeswoman said: 'These are unusual circumstances because of when we started the FA agreement and the need to recognise England's 150 anniversary this year. After the World Cup a normal kit cycle will resume. The home shirt will stay the same for two years and the away one for 18 months.'
The lift from World Cup qualification through sponsorship bonus agreements and extra licensing deals will be worth 10million plus to the FA.
But certainly there was not much value from the 6 Poland match programme that did not update player stats from the Montenegro edition. The FA blame print deadlines.
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FA chairman Greg Dyke found himself welcoming the new minister of sport Helen Grant to Wembley before she had arrived.
Grant, held up by over-running meetings at the DCMS and heavy traffic, only took her seat in the Royal Box 20 minutes into the first half against Poland missing Dyke's speech at the pre-match function when he had to explain her absence.
However at least Grant later found she had something in common with Dyke. They are both Manchester United supporters.
Running late: New minister for sport Helen Grant missed the first 20 minutes of England's win against Poland on Tuesday
Gary Lineker, whose 'awful' and 'dark ages' tweets about past England performances created such a stir, was conspicuously missing from Twitter during the victory against Poland.
Match of the Day host Lineker was at Russell Brand's Messiah Complex stand-up show at the Hammersmith Apollo on Tuesday night rather than watching England. Lineker was a lot more complimentary about Brand, calling him 'bloody superb.' No doubt a MotD guest spot beckons.
Missing: Gary Lineker opted for a night watching comedian Russell Brand rather than England's must-win game with Poland
Mind the neighbours
Guarding England's hotel base in Rio, the Royal Tulip on Sao Conrado beach, will be that more of an issue with the biggest favela in Latin America situated in the nearby hills and with the history of the 2010 gun fight between police and drug-gangs that took place in the hotel surroundings with 30 hostages being held in the Tulip's kitchens.
Also the FA's committed head of security Ray Whitworth is leaving for New York and a job in Major League Soccer in January.
However the FA say they have no worries on the safety front and are also confident the 16 kilometres between hotel and their Urca military base training ground can be covered in just 25 minutes with their daily police escorts. The journey can take well over an hour in heavy traffic.
Camp: England will be based at the Royal Tulip hotel in Rio at next year's World Cup
It was reassuring to find one of England's cossetted millionaire footballers having to join the real world while on international duty. Jack Wilshere was searching late on Tuesday night — along with others — for just where his vehicle had been left in Wembley's cavernous main car park. Jack had declined the usual chauffeured FA transport home that picks up players in a secured underground area because he lives near the national stadium.
Own way home: England midfielder Jack Wilshere drove home from Wembley on Tuesday night
England cricketers boot camp in Germany ahead of last Ashes series was so hard that Jimmy Anderson broke a rib boxing while Monty Panesar described the players being treated like 'animals.'
However the trip this weekend for which the Ashes squad do not need to bring passports is not expected to be anything like as arduous and there's even suggestions that drink could be involved.
Meanwhile, Joe Root and Stuart Broad have already started the team bonding process having been on holiday in Las Vegas.
Team bonding: Joe Root has been on holiday in Las Vehas with England team-mate Stuart Broad
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