Dangerman: Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko (centre) in training on Monday

Hodgson kept his players guessing, even if he had made it clear by then that Danny Welbeck would partner Rooney up front with Ashley Young on the left flank.

For Hodgson, it has already been a fairly successful tournament. He got his tactics right against France and he did so again against the Swedes, the decision to select Andy Carroll paying off as much as the decision to send on Walcott as an impact substitute.

It had Sir Dave Richards, here as chairman of the FA’s international committee, declaring — a tad  prematurely — that Hodgson  possesses ‘the Midas touch’.

‘I suppose I feel on a roll because I’ve found it such an enjoyable job to do,’ said the manager. ‘But it’s nicer to work in a position where nobody expects too much from you.
Once people are giving you praise, you get concerned because then you get worried that you’re going to let them down.’

He did not let anyone down here, and neither did Gerrard.

They both paid a  moving tribute to Danny Fullbrook, the Daily Star chief football writer who lost a battle with cancer at the age of 40 on Monday. A lifelong Fulham supporter,

Danny certainly would have taken pleasure in the contrast between England now and the England team he followed, with the rest of us, in South Africa two years ago.

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