You're right monkey, Wharton would make a huge difference. Ian Wright pleaded for him to be included in the team to play Slovenia. He was making all the headlines before the tournament started, but has been ignored so far.

Ebs was brought on last night, but too late to make an impact, and anyway he wasn't given the ball when he frequently found space.

A very poor, lacklustre performance by the players and manager. At least our boys should be home in time for a solid pre-season!

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

I thought it was poor, obviously. I still maintain it doesn't suddenly mean the last 3 tournaments were crap, but clearly it was a poor performance.

Bellingham was incredibly quiet, and when the entire system is built around him performing, that's going to mean the team is flat.

Main issue for me tactically is the left side - we literally don't have anyone playing down the left so it's a complete non-factor in build-up. If Shaw isn't fit and it has to be Trippier (or another right-footer), then we need a proper winger in front of him to hold the width, and let Trippier tuck inside as he does naturally. Grealish should be there for exactly that role, but I guess Gordon is the next best option.

If Trent is going to play, he needs runners for his passing to be any good - neither Foden nor Kane ever run in behind, so his only outlet is Saka, who he found to decent effect a couple of times.

When he finally brought on runners yesterday (Bowen and Watkins), he took Trent off at the same time.

Assuming he wants to stick with Kane, Foden, Bellingham & Saka in the attack, then it's pointless playing Trent and it should be Wharton alongside Rice. If we need a goal, I'd chuck on Trent along with the Bowen and Watkins types who do run in behind, and I'd expect he'd be a lot more effective.

I still feel we're only a few tweaks away from something clicking and performances improving - long way to go and every chance we hit some form at the right time.

Undie wetters!

In the commentary, they described that we always draw the second group game. Guess what?

Walker said in interview after the game that this is tournament football. Clue?

They can't openly say we held back and did just enough, like a pre season friendly or Carabao Cup game. But obviously they did against Serbia and same again last night. Foden was clearly frustrated and escaped the leash for a moment but generally the team was tethered and the subs were made partly to appease the media, partly to freshen up the game but mainly to rest and protect the starting front line for later more important games.

Game ends. Top of group, only one (worldy) goal conceded, only one card (but that's Gallagher, so?) and no injuries unless there is anything residual from that pitch. But above all - no fatigue.

Much commentary is fixed on Shearer's co-commentary; but his comments were either deliberately misdirecting (still a team player?) or informed by how he did it as a player. Thing is, Southgate was also a player in a team that progressed far and he saw how he and his team mates were drained compared to the competition. Those who win are the best "team", the best defenders and who have the most energy at the end. They are rarely the team that plays high energy, high press and free scoring in the group stage.

The shackles at least partly come off for game 3. Slovenia have been a surprise package and the English will be predicting an ignominious defeat and England scraping through to face a high rank team. There will be the usual every two years gasp of "surprise" from fans and media when we cruise it leaving me to wonder if our beloved national team is supported by goldfish.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been the subject of criticism however the stats have revealed that no player created more chances (3) or played more line-breaking passes in the final third (5) for England against Denmark than him accordingly perhaps one can conclude that he was England's most effective midfielder in the game.

Post script: there was a bloke on the wireless this morning who appeared to be a professor of football pitches (niche!). If you thought the sweat on the players was a consequence of effort think again. In a closed roof venue, it was the exhaled breath of 56,000 fans.

Yuck! As bad as a long haul flights.

That number's taken.