Here’s an interesting question: had Thomas Tuchel been Portugal’s manager rather than England’s, would he have picked Cristiano Ronaldo to go to the World Cup finals? I am pretty sure not. The reason England are better under Tuchel than they were under Gareth Southgate is that the German chose a squad equipped to go the full five weeks.

In the epic win over Mexico last weekend, what England needed in those nerve-shredding closing minutes was not for a Cole Palmer or a Phil Foden to tiptoe into the fray but for a battle-scarred old soldier like Dan Burn to take his place and start banging out the 40-yard headed clearances that kept his goalkeeper safe. (Tuchel had another old soldier in reserve, but unfortunately dear old Jordan Henderson has now wrecked his wrist on, irony of ironies, an advertising hoarding. Still, with a bit of luck, he will be back to cheer up the dressing room at the weekend.)

Tuchel looks like a history professor ready to roast his unruly students 

Tuchel looks like a history professor ready to roast his unruly students 

Had he been in........

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