England conceded by sitting deep

defensive duties than helping the team go forward. It would have been a gamble but would have been worth a try because Croatia were so much stronger in the second half and England had no answers.

As Croatia kept England’s wing-backs occupied, the absence of a playmaker became more evident than it was in the World Cup so far. Harry Kane did try to play in a deeper role but after Croatia equalised, England were hoofing the ball and hoping for the best.

Ivan Perisic’s goal could have been flagged down for dangerous play but it wasn’t perhaps because he struck it cleanly and there was no contact with the England player. Nothing lifts a tired team’s spirit more than a goal and then it was England who looked like they didn’t have the legs.

That said, this is a good, young team with players comfortable on the ball and a coach who has got them to believe. England should stick with Southgate and in a couple of years this team should use the experience of this World Cup to do well in the Euros. Like France, who matured after a quarter-finals exit in 2014 World Cup. And they are the under-17 and under-20 world champions, so something right is happening at the English FA.

France have been my favourites before the World Cup started and one of the reasons for that is how well drilled they are as a defensive unit. How Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud defend is as important as their contribution up the pitch. France were also not intimidated by Belgium’s physical presence and choked the supply line to Romelu Lukaku. Teams that defend this comfortably usually win championships.

Things could also have got interesting if Southgate had played Rashford and Sterling together and taken out, say, Dele Alli. Ivan Perisic’s goal could have been flagged down for dangerous play but it wasn’t perhaps because he struck it cleanly.

On Croatia’s equaliser