Really though, the future of English football should be good.

The "current crop" of talent is possibly better now than it has been in the past, so the raw ingredients are there, but is the "chef" up to it?

Such is football and the format of knock out competitions Southgate can with a few strokes of luck become a national hero.

As for those running the FA, well it's the usual collection of media people, accountants and "box ticking" appointments. No significant input from anybody that's played the game at any professional level.