Start the party: Wayne Rooney celebrates with John Terry

In the end, it mattered not. Thanks to a quite astonishing victory for Sweden over France, England emerged as comfortable winners of Group D and it is of little comfort to Ukraine that it would not have rescued them from elimination either.

For England, however, it was all rather more positive. This was their fourth win in five under Hodgson, extending the unbeaten run they have so far enjoyed under their new manager.

Hodgson will still have his issues with the performance here at the Donbass Arena. As Steven Gerrard said, it was ‘not fantastic’. It was actually far from that at times.

Rooney’s 48th-minute goal was important on so many levels, not least in easing the sense of anxiety that had developed among England’s players after a nervy first half against co-hosts who were classy in everything they did except their finishing.

Hodgson would have returned to the dressing room at the interval more with a sigh of relief than a swagger, such was the manner in which his team held Ukraine to a goalless first 45 minutes.

Defensively England were terrific. John Terry was magnificent, just as he was against France. Just as he almost always is in an England shirt.

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