Such is the relentless nature of World Cups, the sense of recency bias is heightened. When there are four games a day during the group stage and celebrating even the sweetest victory before the final is tempered by the need to focus on what happens next, the appreciation of moments and performances are diluted.
So, while there is a feeling that England’s defeat by France on Saturday night is the only thing worth considering about this tournament, the zoomed-out view produces a more rounded perspective, not least when it comes to the young players. Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, most notably, have seen their statuses elevated to world class.
But Marcus Rashford ’s rediscovered form has been, if not forgotten, at least glossed over by circumstances. Even in the super-sub role, the Manchester United forward was outstanding in Qatar - epitomised by his performance against Wales.
