There have been some big feelings in recent days, feelings of consternation, even outrage, at England’s two Wembley performances. Change the players. Sack the manager. Delete England as a sporting entity. If Harry Kane isn’t fit, do they even bother going through the motions of drawing 1-1 with Croatia and muddling past Ghana, only to be knocked out in the last-16 by the first good team they run into?
At which point, perhaps it is worth taking stock for a moment. It is unlikely any of Thomas Tuchel’s starters against Uruguay will play a significant role at the World Cup. The line-up to face Japan was stronger but only a handful of those will start in North America. Six key players were missing. The football was drab and uninspiring, but none of this was entirely representative of who England will be in the summer.
