I think the perfroamces games against Colombia and particularly Sweden are being under rated, the latter had seen off the Netherlands, Italy and indirectly Germany - and we did dismantle them, but obviously ... they weren't actually that good (no Pontus these days).
Most enjoyable tournament to watch since Euro96 for me, though this afternoon was a cold reality check - harsh on Trippier and maybe Pickford and Maguire, but I wouldn't have an England player in a Belgium/England composite team on that performance - even Chadli makes my "TEAM" FFS, though clearly if we had a couple (or even one) players as good as De Bruyne and Hazard we'd be transformed. At this stage you need world class as in Modric and our only previously plausible candidate Lord Harry of Kaneshire was missing in action - again (though he may be injured).
ITV just about saved themselves from an all time low commentary wise when Hoddle gave a realistic look ahead, concerned that the young(ish) team were not getting game time - the paradox that Pickford and Maguire aside, the national team are mostly playing (if irregularly) in much stronger sides at club level, and their abilities (or lack of them) are ruthlessly exposed, particularly in creative play, when the side as a whole lacks that top level ability. I'll continue to ineffectually chunter that young home countries players need to get out of their comfort zone and get abroad to Serie A or la Liga for a season or two - but hope springs eternal and Euro 2020 is around the corner, and the likes of Malta, Andorra or whomever we draw should keep the dream alive for a bit.
