4 Truths: England must build around Dele Alli, limited Lukas Podolski highly effective

In a little over two years, Dele Alli has emerged from League One to arguably become England’s best player. In a pre-match interview, the Tottenham man said that he loved playing in big games and had a fearless approach to them.

England have a player willing and happy to take responsibility. Gareth Southgate has a responsibility to build this England team around him.

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England certainly played the better football on the night against Germany, but were undone by a thunderous strike from Podolski.

However, there were positives. Michael Keane looked composed on his first start for the national team, while there were also fine cameos from the bench, with Nathan Redmond and Marcus Rashford playing particularly well.

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Lukas Podolski’s strike against England in his last international was a fine way to sign off. It was also indicative of the Galatasaray man’s career. He plays football in a refreshing simple way. Find space, get a yard and shoot. He is hardly the most technical of players; he is limited but hugely effective, as his record of 49 goals from 130 international matches shows.

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International breaks gets enough stick without the utter shambles that unfolded in the 1-1 draw between a weakened Scotland side and Canada at Easter Road on Wednesday night. The pitch was a disgrace. The game was pointless. What was either side to gain from playing this tie? It made no sense.

The ground was half full and standard of football on offer was as bad as pitch. And why did the Scottish Football Association charged adults £22 and kids £10 to watch it? The goals were a comedy of errors to sum up the mood of the match.