The torment of our young Lions who willfeel the pain of a nation

JOHN STONES beat the turf and amid the pandemonium in the Croatian ranks, you could imagine his scream.

He did not deserve this, did not deserve to be blind-sided by Mario Mandzukic for the goal that sent England home, did not deserve the pain that will come with selfrecrimination.

The moment encapsulated the torment this beautiful game can bring.

Will Stones remember Russia 2018 as the uplifting time when he, for the most part, majestically affirmed his claim to be a worldclass defender? No.

Or for that header against Panama? No.

Just as he pummelled the earth when Mandzukic showed why he is a worldclass striker, he will pummel himself over these coming days, weeks, months even. No-one else will. Not his manager, not the public.

England let this slip, England blew it by not sending Croatia into half-time two goals down, England blew it because Harry Kane missed a great chance to do just that, England blew it because they were technically inferior.

But they don’t deserve upbraiding. Not Stones, not anyone else.

Certainly not Kieran Trippier, chaired away from the pitch in searing pain before the game’s end, leaving England with 10 men. Tripper goes home a hero. Scores a goal in a World Cup semi-final? Not bad for a Bury lad.

Not just any goal, a free-kick of beauty that a Ballon D’Or contender would boast about. Not bad for a Bury lad.

Making yourself a shoo-in for the Team of the Tournament at your first one. Not bad for a Bury lad.

Becoming one of global football’s best wing-backs. Not bad for a Bury lad.

Those were Trippier’s words the other day as he gave a reflective update on his time in Russia so far. And they still have resonance. They can all drive home and say “not bad”.

Yet what this understandably nervy, indeed fraught, game confirmed is what Gareth Southgate had made his top-line message before the draw unfurled like a red carpet to the semi-finals.

There is plenty of scope in this squad, plenty of improvements to be made, collectively and individually.

Making observations is permissible and there were more than a few suspect performances.

Jordan Henderson’s passing generally did well to find anything other than the stands, while Kane again looked leaden and missed an opportunity he would normally have dispatched with pea-shelling ease.

Harry Maguire, at times, was cumbersome and then there is Raheem Sterling. A lot of former professionals have been indignant at criticism of Sterling from the public.

In fact, after it was pointed out he seemed to be getting an unjust amount of flak from the fans who marked him on the BBC website, it became a no-no to have a pop on social media.

But the truth is somewhere in between. Sterling was at his most spectacularly frustrating here.

Yes, it is fine striking fear into defenders with those bursts of pace, but it doesn’t count for a thing if you comfort them with consistently bad decisions. So many times, he darted into areas of danger, only to cause anything but danger. Surrounded by the quality he enjoys at Manchester City, Sterling flourishes.

Having to carry a heavy attacking burden with England, he falters. That is not victimisation, that is a fact. And Sterling (above, with Southgate) can look back on a very decent tournament.

Make no mistake, he will play a big part in England’s future under Southgate.

With the odd ageing exception, most of this squad will.

That future is exciting, laden with possibilities.

It did not feel like it when the final whistle on their World Cup sounded.

It did not feel like it as Stones punched the grass in torment. But it is true.

As the players ended their tweets after every joyous step of this tournament… we go again.

When he has to carry a heavy attacking burden with England, Sterling falters