Perhaps the biggest compliment Gareth Southgate can be paid after this was that the Netherlands looked more like England than England did.
It looked for a while as though they would not be rewarded for a performance which represents a useful and timely step forward in their World Cup preparations but Jesse Lingard marked his ninth cap with a first international goal to hand the visitors a 1-0 win at the Amsterdam ArenA.
It came after 59 minutes in which England dominated territorially and edged possession as Southgate’s demands for a display brimming with confidence and conviction were heeded by his young team.
The bravery of his team selection was mirrored in the attitude of his players – even accounting for the home side’s palpable and numerous deficiencies – and all that was lacking either side of Lingard’s strike was greater incision and quality in the final third.
Harry Kane’s return from injury should help no end. More is needed against Italy on Tuesday to build a convincing argument for England’s prolonged participation this summer but Southgate’s commitment to 3-5-2 looks justified on this evidence and finally, after five winless high-profile friendlies and over four hours without a goal, they have a result to help generate optimism and self-belief.
The build-up was somewhat marred by the arrest of 25 England fans in Amsterdam on Thursday night for what the authorities here described as “various offences”, including beer bottles being thrown at police officers.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported this afternoon there were further arrests in the city’s Red Light District in the hours leading up to kick-off - with the figure said to have risen to around 90 in total by 10pm local time – and if the continuation of poor behaviour from a section of England’s travelling support was sadly no surprise, there was one to be found in the team they had come to watch.
Southgate confirmed yesterday that England would line up with a three-man defence but it would be difficult to find anyone who predicted Kyle Walker would be one of its component parts, starting on the right side of a trio completed by John Stones and Joe Gomez.
The England boss made seven changes in all from the side that drew with Germany last November with captain Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain charged with the task of injecting some dynamism into central midfield as Jack Wilshere convalesces back in London while Marcus Rashford spearheaded the attack with Raheem Sterling and Jesse Lingard in support.
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England began confidently with a high defensive line, looking to assert themselves on opposition undergoing their own rehabilitation under Ronald Koeman.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fired an early sighter straight at goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet either side of Joe Gomez sustaining and then being forced off with an injury after coming off worse in a challenge with striker Bas Dost. Harry Maguire replaced him.
It quickly became clear why the Dutch had failed to qualify for the World Cup as England pressed them high up the pitch, forcing mistakes and quick turnover of possession. Twenty-one minutes of frustration at a lack of cohesion in the home side’s play prompted Matthijs de Ligt trying his luck from distance but Jordan Pickford was equal to his effort.
Henderson glanced Trippier’s 32nd-minute free-kick wide of Zoet’s left-hand upright as England probed for an opening. There was plenty to like about England until the final third, rendering a brief chant of “football’s coming home” from the 5,253 away fans decidedly optimistic.
Lingard almost sliced open the Netherlands defence eight minute before the interval but Zoet raced off his line to just beat Sterling to his through ball.
At the other end, Pickford, who appears the goalkeeper currently most likely to start for England in Russia, lacked authority from a Memphis Depay corner but Dost could not take advantage of the space afforded to him, heading tamely over.
Maguire then gifted Depay possession but the former Manchester United winger could only fire a tame effort at Pickford from just outside the box.
England should have been awarded a penalty six minutes after the restart. Rashford burst into the box and as he took the ball past the onrushing Zoet, there appeared to be contact from both the Dutch goalkeeper and de Ligt but Spanish referee Jesus Gil Manzano was unmoved.
Southgate swivelled on his heels to protest with the fourth official but he did not have to wait long for his team to take the lead.
England worked the ball to the left where Danny Rose drilled a low cross into the box. The ball was only half cleared to Lingard, who took aim and steered a low shot into the corner.
A raft of substitutions followed - Jamie Vardy, Dele Alli, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young all entered the fray – but it was Trippier who almost scored a second, forcing Zoet to beat away his fierce 82nd-minute drive.
England were comfortable, so much so that their fans began to drift into the Friday night chill with 20 minutes remaining. Those that remained saw Southgate greet the final whistle with a great deal of satisfaction.