Ear we go home: Young departed England's Krakow base on Monday afternoon

But for all the success Hodgson has had in the short time he has been in charge — in organising the team as well as he did and creating unity among the players — the lack of possession was alarming.

Over the four games they averaged just 39 per cent; England’s worst figures in a tournament since 1980 and better only than Greece and Ireland this month.

While Hodgson was more reluctant to acknowledge the statistics, he too expressed some frustration. ‘Last night we gave the ball away far too often in areas where we didn’t expect to,’ he said.

The FA have not returned to the dark ages. Work is being done to challenge the culture of English football. The National Football Centre is about the open. There are new reforms for kids’ football.

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