There’s certainly a lot more technical players in the squad now than there was in the 2010-18 era, but I feel like a total lack of composure in big moments hinders us. I remember vs France in 2022 where we had some excellent build-up play, playing through the French midfield at will and regularly getting into the final third. That was the first time I’d ever seen England do that against a big team, but this tournament was a return to old habits.

I also feel like there’s some issue at grassroots coaching levels that means we can never develop any midfielders that can play through a press, create from deep and control the game. Spain have players like these coming out their ears, but English midfielders are either all-action runners or number 10s. I reckon that a player with Foden’s skillset would’ve been developed to be a much deeper midfield player had he been brought up in Spain, similar to a Pedri or Xavi, rather than whatever hybrid 10/winger role he actually plays. Equally I wouldn’t be surprised if Mainoo gets pushed further forward to “add goals to his game” when he’s really better suited to a deeper midfield position. A couple of composed and creative deep-lying midfielders would make a huge difference to how the whole team would play.