Three prominent members Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham were as good as nowhere to be seen.
If you did catch a glimpse of them against Slovakia, they looked ponderous, nervous and clueless.
But even in the most dire of sporting situations, leaders have deep wells of resolve, deep wells of defiance, deep wells of determination.
More importantly, they have a muscle memory that lifts them above the average run-of-the-mill player.
How else can you explain Bellingham's extraordinary leveller deep into stoppage time? How else can you explain Kane's predatory finish that made it 2-1 early in extra-time? Kane had been terrible in the regulation 90 minutes.
If, as the Bayern Munich star claims, he really is fully fit and his back is not giving him any grief, it is hard to explain why he has developed the turning circle of an oil tanker.
For large parts of England's Euro 2024 campaign, Kane's movement has been laboured to say the least.
This story is from the July 01, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 01, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EVAN AND HELL
Cherries striker off mark as Saints struggle again
JOS LIKE THAT, BUTTLER'S BACK
JOS BUTTLER will blaze back into the spotlight with a smile on his face and a \"million runs\".
I won't Wade in on England talk
BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS NOT THINKING OF RECALL
BLUE'S DECISION TIME
Deadline day approaches for filly's Arc glory bid
Pine marten returned to wild after 100 years
Animal settles into Dartmoor home
The hard-drinking blue-collar poet with a deep love of Shakespeare
Country music legend and Hollywood star Kris Kristofferson, who has died aged 88, didn't think he'd live past 30. But it wasn't until he saw himself on screen in A Star Is Born that he finally quit booze
Stab teen boasts: That's one way to be a celebrity
A GIRL of 14 boasted, \"That's one way to be a celebrity\" after she stabbed two teachers and a teenager at school, a court heard.
Driver, 96, who mowed down and killed fellow bridge club player avoids jail
A 96-YEAR-OLD driver has avoided prison after driving on the pavement when leaving her bridge club and killing a fellow player.
Explosions ahead of 'imminent' invasion
EXPLOSIONS from heavy artillery fire rumbled across Lebanon's border region last night as Israel softened defences ahead of an anticipated ground invasion.
Schofield: I was axed over pervert brother
PHILLIP Schofield was accused of lying last night after claiming ITV forced him out because of his brother's sexual assault conviction.