Only in the training session on the eve of this astonishing contest did Andy  Carroll and Danny Welbeck join forces in the England attack, and Carroll responded to his selection by scoring with a thumping first-half header.

It came after 23 minutes, in Carroll’s 24th minute of competitive international football, and it proved in one glorious leap into the air that Hodgson was right to replace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a player who could expose Sweden’s  vulnerability to headers.

But a manager also earns his money when the pressure is really on and Hodgson’s decision to send on Theo Walcott as a replacement for James Milner paid off beautifully too.

It was a game changer, Walcott equalising within five minutes of Sweden’s second goal with a stunning swerving strike before providing the cross that Welbeck converted with a  finish of such sublime quality it  bordered on genius; a back-heeled volley that he executed at speed and on the turn. It was a brilliant 78th minute winner.

Hodgson will still have his issues. Not least with what amounted to a disastrous spell for England in the first 15 minutes after the break; what looked like a loss of defensive concentration and a loss of fluency and finesse that was also costly after scoring against France on Monday.

England had ended the first half looking so, so composed. They were ahead and in control, perhaps not playing the most beautiful football but football that worked for them.

They were passing the ball well, retaining possession. Against France they managed just one effort on target from only 35 per cent of the possession. After 45 minutes here they had produced three shots on target having enjoyed 55 per cent of the ball.

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