After all the “Arise, Sir Gareth” stuff he got home and went back to his course, a three-year UK Sport leadership programme. The hype of the World Cup did not change Gareth Southgate’s mind about continuous development. In Russia he cracked nothing — as he sees it — and he needs to get better, evolve.

Southgate regards his team the same way. Goalless draws are usually quickly forgotten but maybe Friday in Croatia was different. It could just prove one of those games a coach looks back upon, after a successful journey.

Off duty: England’s Jadon Sancho and teammates stretch during a recovery session at their hotel in Rijeka EDDIE KEOGH

For the first time it felt England truly moved on from the summer. Getting slightly the better of Croatia in their own lair was an act of facing down trauma, given the pain