England were in the mood for banishing demons last night with an aggressive attacking performance to dispatch one of their most feared opponents over the last two decades in Croatia, winning the opening game of Group L 4-2.
The result - and, for the most part, the performance - was great fun: four goals, three points and a new-found confidence to play on the front foot not seen from an England team at a World Cup in some time.
Yet listening to Anthony Barry's half-time interview with ITV, you would be forgiven for thinking England were trailing at the break rather than level with the score at 2-2.
Thomas Tuchel's assistant manager described the team's opening 45 as "complicated and confusing", complaining of "nervous" energy, poor decision-making and an inability to play with the freedom desired of them.
