NO matter how much I try to move past the dour draw against Scotland, it is hard to rid myself of the thought that Gareth Southgate is holding back on playing an attacking line-up for an occasion that will never arrive.

Risk averse football can even win tournaments, and the team which makes the least mistakes is often the one left holding the trophy at the end of it all.

But while it is perfectly OK to fall back on the ‘positives’ of keeping clean sheets, or the fact you were not beaten by a team ranked 40 places below you in the world, there must also be a time when your big players step forward and make a statement.

One can only hope that happens against the Czechs on Tuesday evening – because I am not sure my nerves, nor my fingernails can cope with the thought of goalless draws and penalty shoot-outs in the knockout stages.

Let’s face it, England do not have a rich back history of winning tournaments to look back on and draw experience. In fact, the one time we did lift the World Cup, Sir Alf Ramsey did away with the so-called flair players and flooded the middle of the park with grafters, his so-called Wingless Wonders.

Maybe it is the overspill from that one and only victory on the world stage that has conditioned the English game to accept there is only a certain amount of unpredictability, skill or flamboyance that a team can handle?

If, for example, Spain had Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho in their ranks – do you think two of those players would be taking up residence on the bench at any one time? I would wholly expect a system to be developed whereas all three could play, if necessary.

When England hammered Holland 4-1 at Euro 96, they did so with a front five of Darren Anderton, Paul Gascoigne, Steve McManaman, Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer. Paul Ince provided the midfield muscle in behind.

Six years earlier, England went into a World Cup semi-final against West Germany with an attacking five of Chris Waddle, David Platt, Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley and Gary Lineker.

It seems a rare occasion that the national team take the handbrake off and reviewing the good and the bad of the last two matches at Euro 2020, attacking quality has been very thin on the ground.

Harry Kane made a good point, stating that if England had drawn against Croatia then beaten then Scots they would have the same points, but fewer people complaining. As the old football saying goes, you are only as good as your last game – and unfortunately, that is not a glowing recommendation for him or the team.

Some suggest it is better that England go through in second and avoid the so-called Group of Death third-placed team in the last 16 but, personally, I think it would be more advantageous to field a strong line-up against the Czechs, earn a good win, and finally feel there is some stability to the line-up.

I do not expect to see Southgate resist his natural pragmatism and bow to public clamour for an all-star front five but I would like to see his side play with more width, instead of as a collection of talented players all trying to play as a number 10.

Kane’s international record suggests he will come good. Of course, he would dispute that his uncertain future at club level would affect his performances but as captain he deserves some backing – and Southgate is nothing if not a loyal manager who will stand up for his players.

England must get cuter, though, if they are going to achieve anything other than their obligatory penalty shootout in the knockout stages.

Consistency of performance will obviously be key to progressing to the latter stages but England will need to be consistently much better if they are going to make this a golden summer.