Both related.

It hasn’t started because of this. It has become a trend as it is more effective. It draws teams in and stretches the game out, creating more space further forwards.

How many international tournaments in 80s, 90s and Noughties did England fall short against top opposition? We didn’t even qualify in 70s. Other teams were able to keep the ball and especially receive it in tight situations on half turn all over the pitch. Meanwhile our lads were left chasing shadows in 90 degrees of heat.

We are now producing footballers who have great touch, can dribble, shoot, pass and play the short and long game. Previously, having a good engine to get up and down and being able to put a foot in was much more the focus and it set our national game back.

The FA deserve some credit. Better facilities (lots of Astro about but need more), small sided games (pitch size and numbers increase as players go up through the age group), the retreat to half way line from goal kick rule encourages players to play out from the back and ensures players get loads of touches on the ball and are encouraged by the large number of trained coaches to pass it around.

This ability and humility to learn from successful countries like Brazil, Spain and France is a far cry from the English game’s arrogance of 50s, 60s and 70s.

The England captain leading his side out against Puskas’s Mighty Magyars at Wembley scoffed, ‘It’ll be easy today lads. They’re wearing slippers.’ The Hungarians were wearing the modern football boot whilst England had on the big old hobnails. We lost 6-3.

Our game has come so far, but still needs to go further. Still too many inappropriate adults running teams and the local leagues don’t do enough to get them out of the game. My daughter plays U12s girls and U11 boys and most of the coaches are good guys. The training, Astro pitches and approach to the game is all so vastly different to my experience of the game growing up in the 70s. I played very little organised junior footie as it was so shit. Vastly better now.