The new Uefa Nations League has not had much of a reception in England but Gareth Southgate is thrilled by the prospect of playing in it over the autumn.

England fly back from Russia today but Southgate is already turning his attention to the new season and how to take his team to the next level. He knows that as well as his side did, reaching their first semi-finals since 1990, that there is still plenty of work to be done, and some serious issues in his team. Especially - though he has not said this explicitly - how they play in midfield and how they cope with teams who are technically better than them.

That was the story of this World Cup campaign, where England won four games, but also lost twice to Belgium and once to Croatia. Both of whom could boast more quality on the ball than England could.

Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings <b>Belgium:</b> Thibaut Courtois - 7 out of 10 Had little to do and was most threatened by his own player’s touch on a free kick that he gathered with minimal fuss AP Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Toby Alderweireld - 7 out of 10 A brilliant off the line clearance denied England an equaliser before Belgium’s second. Solid when called upon after little to do in the rest of the match Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Vincent Kompany - 7 out of 10 Had little to do and coped well with the pace of Raheem Sterling that has given many a defence problems this tournament AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Jan Vertonghen - 7 out of 10 Other than a shaky moment that lacked communication at an England set piece, he had little to do against a tired Harry Kane. AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Thomas Meunier - 8 out of 10 A real threat for Belgium going down the right flank and got on the scoresheet for the opener. He was a big miss for Belgium in their semi-final REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Axel Witsel - 7 out of 10 A physical presence in midfield that allowed time and space for De Bruyne. An impressive World Cup for a player plying his trade in China REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Youri Tielemans - 7 out of 10 An exciting young talent that caused England’s midfield all kinds of problems. A star of the future gaining valuable experience on the world stage REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Nacer Chadli - 7 out of 10 Made a bright start to the game and assisted Thomas Meunier’s opener, before picking up a hamstring injury, the latest in a string that have held back his career Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Kevin De Bruyne - 8 out of 10 A constant thorn in England’s side and given far too much space to pull the strings, created Meunier’s opener and looked a class above EPA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Eden Hazard - 8 out of 10 His pace and power caused problems, and were it not for a flying block from John Stones, he could have easily found the net in the first half, and eventually did in the second AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Romelu Lukaku - 6 out of 10 Had some chances to increase the scoreline for his side but was one touch away from a goal. A bit like Kane has struggled towards the end of the tournament Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings <b>England:</b> Jordan Pickford - 7 out of 10 Looked assured for the most part, but Meunier’s shinned effort did take a touch off of the ‘keepers leg, leaving him wishing he’d moved the slightest touch to the left. Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Phil Jones - 6 out of 10 The weaker of the defenders and less comfortable on the ball. Contributed to the first goal by committing too early and leaving his teammates with a huge area to mark AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings John Stones - 7 out of 10 Assured on the ball and confident Stones has had a World Cup that reasserts his talent and his place at a leading Premier league club EPA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Maguire - 7 out of 10 Solid in defence and at time played well coming into midfield. He had a couple of half-chances from free kicks and always won his headers, looking for someone to capitalise on the knock downs AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Kieran Trippier - 8 out of 10 Offered great deliveries from set pieces once again, and despite the quality of Belgium, looked up to the task. Lacked the energy of his teammates to react to his deliveries PA Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Eric Dier - 6 out of 10 Left with a lot to do in midfield against De Bruyne and co, and had an awful start, but did improve towards the end of the game and managed to find more balance in his play REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Fabian Delph - 6 out of 10 Found himself with some space in midfield going forward and scuffed a couple of shots – not his strong point. The struggled to help Dier in a holding role leaving De Bruyne with acres of space REUTERS Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Danny Rose - 6 out of 10 Looked a shadow of his form last season, and was rightly second choice compared to Ashley Young this tournament. Replaced at half-time. AP Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 7 out of 10 The dangerman for England, he offered pace, trickery and a fearlessness to beat his man. On this performance he should be given a chance to fulfil his potential at Chelsea Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Raheem Sterling - 6 out of 10 Despite his impressive movement and pace, he took too long on the ball and was replaced at half-time AFP/Getty Images Belgium vs England World Cup player ratings Harry Kane - 6 out of 10 Looked short of pace and energy and had a really good chance in the first half. Looks to have ran out of steam but can look back on a successful World Cup Getty Images

On Wednesday night at the Luzhniki, England gradually had the control of midfield wrenched from them by Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic, turning an early 1-0 lead into a 2-1 extra-time defeat. England’s response under pressure was to start hitting the ball long and they never had anyone to play patiently or keep the ball in midfield.

Then, on Saturday in St Petersburg, England could not lay a finger on Kevin De Bruyne, who dropped into the space between England’s defence and midfield, playing killer passes that England could never stop. England could have lost by far more than they did, again raising questions about whether they can handle themselves in midfield against the best.

When Southgate was asked after the Belgium game if he needed a better class of player in midfield, he did not go into specifics, but did say that his hands were tied by the type of player that he has available to him. Clearly Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard themselves cannot be blamed for the midfield failings against Croatia.

(PA (PA)

“We’ve tried to maximise the players that we have and their individual profiles,” Southgate said. “It’s not club football and we can’t go and buy players so for me the players that have been here have acquitted themselves brilliantly for their country and I couldn’t have asked more of them.”

But Southgate knows that heading into the next cycle, England need to improve in midfield. But rather than the usual autumn of low-pressure friendlies and qualifiers against modest teams who will simply try to dig in and defend, England have an exciting novelty to look forward to: competitive games against good teams as soon as the season starts.

The new Uefa Nations League has Europe’s 12 top-ranked sides put into League A, divided into four groups of three. The four winners will then play off for the inaugural trophy next summer. England have been drawn with Croatia and Spain, meaning that they will get to face off against arguably the two best midfield teams in Europe sooner than they may have expected.

England’s first competitive game of the season is less than two months away, hosting Luis Enrique’s Spain at Wembley on 8 September, going up against Isco, Thiago, David Silva, Sergio Busquets and the rest. Then England travel to Rijeka on 12 October for a game that should be a glorious homecoming for Croatia, their first competitive home game since the World Cup, but will in fact be played behind closed doors. Then in October England travel to Seville, for Spain away, in November they host Croatia at Wembley. It makes for the most competitive and exciting autumn programme for any England team in memory.