Johnny Phillips: Changes afoot for biggest test of the Euros to date

Yet, here they are in the quarter-finals of a competition that has already seen the back of holders Italy alongside Belgium and Croatia.

Insanely repetitive this England side may be, but also lucky which is a trait that every winning outfit needs.

As Southgate prepares for this evening’s quarter-final against Switzerland in Dusseldorf, there has been a hint that finally the rigid system that the players have appeared hindered by could be about to change.

At their training base in Blankenhain this week, the manager experimented with a back three.

Perhaps it was the way Switzerland were able to push back the Italians in their round of 16 game that prompted the move.

Italy’s back four seemed like a gift for a Swiss side who were able to press effectively against laboured opposition. It is clear that from the four games before that whatever shape and identity England had in their previous tournament successes has deserted them here.

Had Slovakia gone for the throat and made more of an effort to add to their 1-0 lead last Sunday then surely England’s campaign would be over.

As it happened, and perhaps inevitably for a country that found itself in uncharted territory, Slovakia’s efforts to shut up shop in the dying moments fell just seconds short.

Ivan Toney must have been exasperated to be given what he thought was less than a couple of minutes on the pitch, but with extra-time he was able to show what he could offer if he was entrusted with a starting place alongside a weary Harry Kane. Toney was able to assist England’s record goalscorer for the winning header and offered a presence in attack that has been missing all tournament.

Eberechi Eze was another who showed his worth. The Crystal Palace man can occupy possession but also proved effective in a wide defensive position.

While it may be asking too much for him to slot in as a wing-back from the start, it did raise the issue of the role itself and how England could be so much more effective with a 3-5-2 system.

With Marc Guehi suspended and Kieran Trippier nursing an injury, the three centre-backs could well be John Stones, Ezri Konsa and Kyle Walker.

Walker’s pace could be perfect for the role, particularly against the Swiss press.

As ever, formations are only numbers on a pitch map until the ball is in play, but given the lack of a match fit left-back and the failure to grasp control in midfield, that system would surely offer something more flexible and controlling for Southgate’s side.

As always, it needs the players to perform and the worry is that this tournament is highlighting how many miles they have already run at the end of a long and testing domestic season rather than their abilities on the big stage.

Jude Bellingham’s wonderful equaliser against the Slovaks was a reminder of why he should be on the turf for every minute available, but he has struggled to produce his club form for much of his time in Germany so far.

Similarly, Phil Foden has been less effective for England than he is for Manchester City, although that might be down to the role he is being asked to play.

Switzerland will be incredibly tough opposition and head coach Murat Yakin has been in bullish mood to this point.

An experienced side has already held holders Germany to a draw before disposing with Italy in the opening knockout stages.

Despite some impressive individual performances, it is fair to say that the old adage of the collective being greater than the the sum of its parts applies to this side.

Out of possession, they are cautious in a 3-4-3 or even 5-4-1 formation depending on the circumstances presented by the opposition, but once they have the ball then that can change to four at the back with just two players in holding midfield positions allowing for a fluid attack.

One important figure is Michel Aebischer, who spent most of last season playing in midfield for Bologna.

He starts at left wing-back for his country but moves into midfield when his team have the ball.

Defender Ricardo Rodriguez then pushes out wide on the left and Silvan Widmer drops in at right-back to complete the back four.

It is a credit to the head coach that Switzerland have found a way to be so flexible and it certainly stood them in good stead against Italy. Nobody should be in any doubt that his evening’s match represents the biggest test so far for England at this championship.