For much of the last year, it’s felt like England might have been better giving Lee Carsley the top job.

Thomas Tuchel was appointed for an elite CV which would provide “edge” in big games but where was the actual impact? The team looked stodgy, the results were mediocre and the whole thing was veering dangerously into “meh” territory.

Carsley appeared inoffensive but he tried things. All-out attack at Wembley against Greece was mad scientist stuff but when it blew up in his face he wasn’t afraid to admit it was an experiment. After the conservatism of Gareth Southgate, that’s what England needed.

It still is. The Football Association aren’t paying Tuchel £5m a year to tread water so it was about time he put his stamp on proceedings. View the decision to drop Jude Bellingham – for that

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