'Football is a simple game,' said Roy Keane at Wembley on Tuesday. 'You need to get the ball forward quickly to your attacking players.'
For long periods, that looked far from easy for England against the Czech Republic.
They did not sustain their level, having shown off some of their creative genius in the first half.
England's attacking verve lessened after a strong start againstthe Czech Republic at Wembley
Jack Grealish's assist for Raheem Sterling was enough to take England top of Group D
Bukayo Saka also excelled and added much-needed zip and composure going forward
There was the sublime flash of colour that Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish produced in the build-up to Raheem Sterling putting England ahead on 12 minutes, but after that everything gradually faded to grey, as so often with England.
Even broaching this subject carries risks. It's deemed sacrilegious and unpatriotic.
There's such an aversion to the kind of negative frenzy that surrounded the England team for years that it's tempting just to dwell on the clean sheets and move on.
Blind negativity is certainly self-defeating. Witness the Dutch, who are so maligned by some of the country's media that fans celebrate Memphis Depay's goals by sticking fingers in their ears, imitating his own show of defiance to the media.
But some of the received wisdom about England can be challenged. To suggest defensive pragmatism alone will take the team deep into this tournament is to grossly devalue the galaxy of attacking options at their disposal.
Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham will all be hard pushed to get a start in the round of 16 at Wembley on Tuesday.
The names of Kane, Sterling and Foden resonate around the continent. This is a squad that should do more than register clean sheets and nick the odd goal. They don't have to be to this competition what Greece were
