sport news Kobbie Mainoo and Jarrod Bowen among four England stars who have timed their ... trends now

England may have failed to win two games against top opposition at Wembley, but the real winners and losers of this international break were always going to be individuals.

This is audition season, when team-mates are rivals just as much as those in opposition. 

Is it little wonder we saw two very different team performances when players are motivated more by self-interest than that of the collective? That is not a criticism, it is a reality of international football on the eve of a major tournament.

A lifetime of training, travelling, matches, watching, listening, learning, it could all boil down to 90 minutes or less. Friendlies? The competition is fierce.

Against Belgium, it was telling that those assured of their place in Germany - the likes of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden - were not at their very best until the closing stages when England pressed to avoid defeat. 

Those busting a gut, by comparison, were the understudies whose role in the final show is yet to be determined.

For some, it was more bust than busting, and you suspect their chance has now gone. As Southgate said: 'We needed to expose the areas that we are short in.'

Here, we take a look at those winners and losers…

WINNERS

Kobbie Mainoo

An England Under-21 player last week, a starter for the senior side this. And now, you feel, favourite to start alongside Rice this summer. 

It was his bravery that stood out against Belgium. Not in the tackle, but in possession. At 18, he could have played it safe, negotiated his full debut without risk of making a mistake. Some more experienced colleagues still play like that. 

But Mainoo, at times, was like a winger in the middle of the park - dribbling, dropping a shoulder, always looking to move the ball forward. 

His nutmeg of Amadou Onana captured the spirit of his performance - here was a boy bringing men down to size. It was not just the opposition who were reduced in stature and reputation, for Mainoo has stormed ahead of several of his seniors. 

As Southgate said: 'He gives us a profile of player we haven't got. That's hugely exciting.'

Jarrod Bowen

Steve Bruce once said he wasn't sure Bowen was good enough for the Premier League. He had signed him for Hull and had just taken over at Newcastle in 2019. Five years on and he looks good enough for a place at the European Championship. 

There was a hint of it during a late cameo against Brazil, a dribble of pace and adventure. He picked up where he left off when starting three days later, dashing down the right wing inside 30 seconds. In fact, he did not let up. 

This was Bowen's best yet for England. He played without fear and was direct, running at his opponent at every opportunity. He looks to have timed his run for Germany perfectly.

Anthony Gordon

There was less of Bowen's bravado about Gordon's debut versus Brazil, but there was discipline, energy and still the attacking intent to produce two of the team's three shots on target. 

He looked

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