England have enjoyed a productive international break in their first fixtures since the World Cup, but the success is exactly what makes them so rage-inducing, according to a new opinion piece.
The highlight was a seven-goal demolition of Croatia, a top footballing nation that has caused the Three Lions problems at major tournaments in the past. England were clinical, ruthless and brutally brilliant, as close to perfection as possible. They also secured two dominant victories over Czechia and didn't disgrace themselves in a narrow defeat to Spain, the reigning world champions.
Nations League success masks tournament failures
On face value, it has been a rip-roaring run of fixtures for the Three Lions, but the storming success over the last few weeks is exactly what makes them so rage-inducing. The opinion piece argues that nobody really cares about the glorified friendlies in the Nations League, asking: where were they in the World Cup, when it actually mattered?
England have shown they can deliver against almost any opposition, with almost being the key word. Although they played well against Spain, it was yet another 'nearly' performance, the sort of game that has haunted them at major tournaments since 1966.
Past tournament heartbreaks still fresh
The sort of game they played against Argentina in the summer, against Italy at the Euros on home soil, and against Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals eight years ago. That is precisely what makes these Nations League victories against Croatia and Czechia so frustrating. England can do it, so why haven't they done it on the biggest stage in 60 years?
Beating these teams in essentially meaningless games is all well and good, but if it's not going to happen when it really matters, then what's the point? The victory over Croatia will live long in the memory of England fans, mainly because of the humiliation factor imposed on what is usually a very good footballing side.
Tuchel's test still to come
But anybody who thinks it will gloss over the pain of losing to Argentina earlier this year is mistaken at best and hopelessly delusional at worst. That was the England we needed, but didn't get, at the World Cup.
It's utterly maddening, especially when you consider that Thomas Tuchel was appointed because he was supposed to be the man to buck that inescapable trend. The noise out of the England camp over the last few weeks has been almost sickeningly positive.
Speaking after the Croatia game, Harry Kane said the Three Lions have developed a new level of 'fluidity', a unique understanding that will make them better than ever. But talk is cheap, and unfortunately for England, they'll have to wait another two years until they can prove themselves for real at the Euros. Battering teams in the Nations League just won't cut it.
