England reach first base

When, some while ago, England were drawn into a group containing Belgium, Tunisia and Panama, there was a collective sigh of relief that the odds on breaking free into the knockout stage were high. After all the team had qualified on the back of an unbeaten campaign and neither Tunisia nor Panama presented anything more threatening than the teams they had already overcome.

But such a sentiment ignores England’s lamentable performance at recent championships, none more so than the defeat just over two years ago, against tiny Iceland a side fashioned from a populace of barely 300,000 people. All of which explained why, in the run up to the tournament, Manager Southgate was at pains to play down expectation.

Thus far his plan appears to be working. Just under a week ago stubborn Tunisia were overcome with a last gasp winner from Harry Kane. And today, tournament debutants Panama were despatched in emphatic style, the 6-1 scoreline being England’s biggest ever margin of victory at a major football tournament. The win also ensures that they now proceed to the knockout stage before having to play their final group game against the talented Belgians. All highly commendable.

Yet amongst the obvious delight that first base has already been reached, I sensed that some of the comments about England’s performance were tipping over into hyperbole. First we were fed the usual line that you can only beat was is put in front of you. Well yes, but Panama were quite frankly rank and, as Rio Ferdinand observed, little better than a non- league football side. Second of the six goals scored four came from dead balls and only one, the Jesse Lingard effort, from a defence splitting move and strike. Whilst the heat may have again be a factor England’s second half performance was sluggish with few chances created and the Kane hat-trick goal being one of luck.

Clearly Belgium will present a better benchmark by which to judge our standing. In this regard one can only hope that Dele Alli returns from injury and that Manager Southgate adopts the personnel changes advised in the earlier missive.

©Mark Brennand