Do England's debutants stand a chance of World Cup selection?

It's time for some realism.

Germany isn't renown for approaching friendlies with the utmost professionalism - the Lukas Podolski farewell earlier this year wasn't exactly a case study in competitiveness - but Friday's goalless friendly draw is being viewed as a legitimate test by some journalists covering the England beat.

Seven players withdrew from Gareth Southgate's squad with injuries before the Wembley exhibition, including Harry Kane, Dele Alli, and Raheem Sterling. So when these footballers are fit for the 2018 World Cup, do the five debutants who featured against Die Mannschaft really stand a chance of boarding the plane to Russia?

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Loftus-Cheek is capable of nimble touches, but he's more than the twinkle-toed trickster English pundits often pine for. He pairs aspects of his game that are quintessentially British - he's powerful and puts in plenty of graft - with technical gifts that saw him produce back-to-back nutmegs on Leroy Sane and Marcel Halstenberg.

"Aware that this is an ABSURD comparison, but there's something about the way Loftus-Cheek gets his feet out of the way after taking his first touch that reminds me of Zidane," AFP reporter Tom Williams tweeted.

Comparisons with Zinedine Zidane are a little overboard, but there are obvious skills that can make him an explosive Plan B. England will likely utilise its plentiful options out wide in Russia - Sterling and Marcus Rashford didn't start this match - while Alli is the first-choice attack-minded midfielder.

To find room for Loftus-Cheek in the starting XI, Southgate may have to lose his habit of fielding two defensive midfielders.

Tammy Abraham

Can Abraham be anything more than a third- or fourth-choice striker?

The Chelsea product's height makes him a natural target man up front, but his inability to convert Jamie Vardy's cross in the opening minute shows he needs to polish his poaching. Scoring for Bristol City against Rotherham United and Burton Albion was easy enough last season, but muscling space between Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels, and Antonio Rudiger is a wholly different proposition.

He's also feeding on scraps in front of Swansea City's unimaginative midfield in his latest loan spell, and when there's no injury "crisis" at the international camp, Abraham is firmly behind Kane and Rashford. At 20, he should be content with a bit-part role though, and that's certainly achievable with Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge, Jermain Defoe, and Danny Welbeck jostling for position.

Jordan Pickford

Southgate planned to give Jack Butland an audition for Joe Hart's No. 1 shirt, but the unlucky Stoke City goalkeeper's injury meant that chance was instead given to Pickford. And how he took it.

He thwarted Timo Werner with two fine, low saves, but it's his wonderful, flat deliveries up the park that puts him above his shot-stopping rivals. When pace merchants such as Sterling and Rashford are the recipients of Pickford's deliveries, England could be a serious danger on the counter-attack.

Obviously, club form will be under consideration when Southgate chooses his final squad for Russia and, behind Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams at Everton, Pickford has been busy. A similarly heavy workload did his calls for a lucrative summer transfer from Sunderland no harm, and could strengthen his case for senior XI inclusion a year later.

Joe Gomez

Southgate's picks for his backline are a little peculiar, especially given his 18-year career as a centre-half.

Chris Smalling was overlooked due to his apparent difficulties with the ball at his feet, but stiff-limbed Gary Cahill was given the nod. Michael Keane's services were requested despite a difficult initiation on Merseyside.

However, arguably the most surprising selection was Joe Gomez, one of the better performers in an oft-hapless Liverpool defence. He replaced Phil Jones in Monday's friendly after the Manchester United man suffered a first-half injury.

Things are admittedly a little thin in that department, but the leadership qualities of Jamaal Lascelles (who was belatedly ruled out with an injury) and Lewis Dunk, a duo plying their trades at Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively, should have been worth an experiment in November's friendlies. There have also been calls for Burnley's stubborn centre-back pairing of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee.

Gomez's debut will likely just be work experience for now, but the former Charlton Athletic youngster is a player who should be targeting a regular berth for Euro 2020.

Jack Cork

Perhaps the greatest beneficiary from the spate of injuries in the Three Lions camp was Cork, who enjoyed a late cameo for his international bow.

He's a steady, reliable performer in the middle of the park, but when Alli, Harry Winks, Jordan Henderson, Fabian Delph, and even Nathaniel Chalobah are fit, it's difficult to envision a World Cup squad featuring Cork.

Out of Friday's five debutants, Cork is the likeliest to experience his final St George's Park jaunt this month.