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Everything about this felt slightly off from the start. AT&T Stadium, Jerry World, home of the Dallas Cowboys, has that polished, almost artificial feel to it, and the game kind of matched. A big stage, a controlled environment, but a matchup that always looked like it might be more awkward than it first appeared. The Netherlands came in with the profile you’d expect: experience, physicality, a heavy Premier League influence, with nine of the starting eleven tied to England.

England lost to Japan in their final home game before the World Cup. Japan held off a late England surge to win 1–0 away at Wembley. The visitors had taken the lead through Kaoru Mitoma midway through the first half. England manager Thomas Tuchel used the first hour of the game to trial a new attacking system, which saw the hosts play without a recognised striker. England started the game with a fluid front four comprising: Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers, and Cole