Tuchel has finally found the answer to two England dilemmas after near-perfect break

If you wanted a reminder of the folly of reading too much into UEFA Nations League football, it came when Harry Kane sent over a routine cross to no-one in particular during the first half of a relatively enjoyable game against the Czech Republic.

Perhaps as a gesture of respect for the England captain’s record-equalling cap, Vladimir Coufal smashed it past his own goalkeeper with absurd gusto.

It was bizarre. For the most part, these Nations League games are competitive but they can also be knockabout.

There was an element of knockabout in this latest England victory but Thomas Tuchel will still consider the four-game series - two victories over the Czech Republic sandwiching a hammering of Croatia after the opening defeat to Spain - to be reasonably instructive.

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Of course, he did not need three wins on the spin against under-performing opposition to tell him that Jude Bellingham is frighteningly good, a supreme footballer and athlete. He did not need a hat-trick of bloodless successes to tell him that Kane remains untouchable and peerless in front of goal.

He probably did not need the win treble to tell him Elliot Anderson is the best option in that midfield position, even when he has a club crisis on his mind.

But he might have needed one or two of these past four games to convince himself that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Hall could be the full-back future of this England team.

Look, you still have to wonder about Tuchel’s faith in Alexander-Arnold. Jarell Qaunsah was preferred to the Real Madrid player for the games against Spain and Croatia.

And in both contests against the Czechs, Alexander-Arnold had precious little in the way of defensive obligations to fulfil. But it was not his fault that all he could do was showcase his ball-striking, his attacking adventure and his eye for a show-stopping pass.

That is what he did to an extent that should have eased Tuchel’s doubts. And with Hall at left-back, England had a natural balance.

Tuchel did not take either Hall or Alexander-Arnold to the World Cup. Even without hindsight, that was an odd decision. There is surely little chance of the pair being frozen out again.

Hall was making his third England start in succession and was pretty much immaculate. He is such a tidy player.

His assist for Kane’s second goal of the night was fairly standard - a routine corner-kick that should have been dealt with before it reached the skipper’s head - but having Hall delivering with his left and Alexander-Arnold with his right is a nice blend for Tuchel to have.

Again, this was a match - and these are matches - that come with a caveat when it comes to making meaningful judgements. And considering neither featured in the loss to Spain, it would be interesting to see the two line up for England in Madrid next month.

But in this unusual international break, they have done their causes no harm at all. Maybe Tuchel will finally trust them.