yachts in the English channel – image collinsdigital

To sail a boat you need to understand the wind; true and apparent, the tide; ebb and flood, the currents, lee way, speed over the ground, speed through the water, course to steer and course made good. Its more complex than it looks and Gareth Southgate looked satisfied with where the English ship had ended up.

A nil nil draw with the USA left England almost qualified for the round of sixteen, with a clean sheet and a flat and frustrating display without a hint of the speed and verve that destroyed Iran. The USMNT (United States Mens National Team – no less) were smart enough to realise that neither Maguire or Stones could do anything useful while playing keep ball in the England half.

Southgate called this controlling the game but really the England centre backs had no-one in front of them who could connect with Kane, Sterling and Saka. Leaving Maguire and Stones alone meant that the fit, athletic and competitive Americans had three strong lines of defence. They diligently picked up the wide men,Trippier and Shaw, climbed all over Rice and had nothing to concern them from whimsical Mount or the anonymous Bellingham.

Slowly the USA players began to assert themselves and their fans chanted U – S – A . Pulisic hit the bar. England were shaken and still unable to get forward. It was unrealistic to think that a talented nineteen year old could command a midfield in a World Cup cauldron and Henderson replaced Bellingham to get a grip.

Upfront Southgate put on the incisive Rashford and the circular Grealish. Nothing really changed and the game petered out. It was good to see some genuine, though very strange, passion from the “soccer” followers from America. They do it differently but they support their team.

The England post-mortem started with demands from the commentariat for Phil Foden to be selected. If he had been playing it seems quite likely he would have seen very little of the ball. England did not get down the sides and did not get through the middle.

Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips.

Maybe Southgate would have been better off with Englands Euro shape with five at the back and Phillips alongside Rice. Maybe Foden should be first change instead of fiddle and fall Grealish. Maybe with five at the back Trent Alexander-Armold could fly down the wing.

Everyone has their own solution, their own perspective. Everyone has an answer and answers. The thing is, the purist thing is, that this a results game. It is all about the outcome.

We go on. Together. All of us.

COME ON, ENGLAND.