Trevor Steven: England’s win in Spain was better than 5-1 in Germany or anything at the 2018 World Cup
It’s difficult to recall a game in which England have played better than they did in Monday’s hugely encouraging 3-2 defeat of Spain in the Nations League.
The 5-1 win over Germany in Munich back in 2001 is one that springs to mind, but that England team was much more experienced than the one that took the field in Seville.
There was pressure on England, with relegation from the top tier of the competition at stake, the atmosphere was daunting and the opposition were top class, so this was a huge challenge for a young team.
Read more: Reign in Spain: England revive World Cup fever in famous win
But they passed it with a performance that was better than anything we saw on the run to the World Cup semi-finals earlier this year.
Gareth Southgate deserves great credit on a number of levels. He has fostered a courageous mentality among his squad and got his game plan just right.
Also, having allowed his defenders to get used to the demands of international football in a back three, he has now switched to a four to allow England more scope to press opponents.
His team have been criticised for fading in the second half and, while that was true again, when the first half is that good all you need to do is see the game out.
With their energy, pace and front-foot mentality England can undo teams, especially away from home, and the foundation of their counter-attacks is Jordan Pickford.
The goalkeeper may have had a couple of messy moments but his awareness, urgency and accurate deliveries released the front three time and time again, and directly led to two goals.
Jordan Pickford (right) set up England's counter-attacks with his accurate kicks (Source: Getty)
The key, however, was clinical finishing. England – and specifically Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford – showed how lethal they can be when they are confident in front of goal.
I’ve been waiting for Raheem Sterling to have that game. We always knew he was capable of it, given his scoring record at club level, and this is a massive step forward for him.
Rashford’s finish showed he hasn’t dwelt on external criticism, and that’s another symptom of the supportive dressing room that Southgate has built. All these things help.
Marcus Rashford's display was symptomatic of a supportive dressing room (Source: Getty)
It’s too early to say England have cracked it but they have set a new standard. The bar has been raised a notch and players have a point of reference for what’s expected.
We are seeing the benefits of St George’s Park in how well prepared and professional the team is. It has taken time but the pendulum has swung right over to what England are doing.
The next debate will be about making sure some of the promising young English players are getting enough game-time.
The Premier League will always have an international flavour, but it’s good news that some of Europe’s top teams want to take our youngsters, as Borussia Dortmund have with Jadon Sancho.
I’m sure this is something that we’ll see more of, and Sancho’s former team-mate Phil Foden might wonder whether even a temporary move from City, where opportunities are limited, is best for his development.
Minutes on the pitch are crucial, while joining clubs abroad also means absorbing a new culture, learning a language and growing as a person. This is how England can take the next step.