Gary Cahill is frustrated by the 'crazy' scheduling of England's Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia three weeks after the end of the Premier League season.
The centre-back, like a number of his compatriots, has been in a state of flux since the curtain came down on the league campaign, unable to go away for long due to international commitments.
Cahill believes that stop-start approach is to blame for the Three Lions' tepid display against the Republic of Ireland, where the high-profile friendly ended in an uninspiring 0-0 draw.
However, the Chelsea centre-back says that match has blown away the cobwebs ahead of the trip to Slovenia, which comes during what he believes is an unhelpfully late international window.
"I thought it was a poor game, to be honest with you," Cahill said of the trip to Ireland. "We've set higher standards than that since the World Cup, so, yeah, it was disappointing for us.
"But, making no excuses, it is tough when you've got a qualifying game bang in the middle of June. You finish the season on 24th May, then you have three weeks before you play an important qualifying game.
"It is a bit crazy for me but you get on with it as it is obviously not us who makes that decision.
"What we got out of it as a team was getting the cobwebs out of everybody leading into this game that is important for us on Sunday."
The England players are feeling much fresher, physically and mentally now, Cahill says, as they get back into their normal international regime.
"I think it is difficult to have near enough a week off and then start back up again," the England centre-back said.
"Even in club football, it's hard - you're playing at such a level that you can't just click your fingers and be back at the levels you expect to be at. It's tough.
"Like I said, the qualifying game (scheduling) is a strange one. Now, mentally we're back in the swing of training and we're preparing like we always do for the game on Sunday."
The trip to Ljubljana offers Roy Hodgson's men the chance to tighten their grip at the top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group E.
They could potentially move nine points clear at the top with victory at the Stadion Stozice - a result which would see them end the season unbeaten for the first time in 24 years, while seeing them maintain their 100 per cent record in qualifying.
"It is big for us for a few reasons," Cahill said of the Slovenia trip.
"It is big for us because we're unbeaten this season, we've won every game in the qualifying campaign which is something we should be very proud of and something we want to keep going.
"It is important for that reason and that we will be one step closer if we won."
The reverse fixture was the only time England have conceded in Group E - albeit through a Jordan Henderson own goal in a 3-1 win for the Three Lions - and few expect Hodgson's men to come a cropper against a side 33 spots lower in the FIFA rankings.
They approach the match unbeaten in 10 and looking to continue their fine form after a disappointing World Cup which drives Cahill forwards.
"It is kind of like unfinished business where you are hungry for it to come around again, you can't wait for it come around again," he said.
"You want to be a part of it again. I am sure everyone else feels the same but that's my personal feeling.
"I think you've not just seen in the results from the World Cup but the performances as well, taking the game out the other day. Up until that point we played very well, we looked very sharp and it has been impressive.
"We've had many clean sheets so everything is going in the right direction.
"You are judged with a tournament but we'll be two years down the line when France comes along and I am sure we'll be a lot more experienced than we were then."
Source: PA
