Mason Mount’s work without the ball and technical ability have justified his
England place all while suffering unfair scorn

Two steps forward, one step back. In a way, this has been the story of Gareth Southgate’s England in microcosm. Stirring progress followed by chastening tournament defeat; goodwill earned and then squandered; the heartening emergence of Conor Coady and Tyrone Mings tempered by the sharp decline of Harry Maguire. And here again a broadly encouraging international week curdled at its climax, defeat to Denmark an unhappy epilogue after the wins over Wales and
Belgium.
Related: Denmark and Eriksen make England pay for Maguire's reckless lunges