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The Nations League was supposed to be a good thing for England’s World Cup preparations.

A chance to experiment in competitive games, strong opposition and a get together with less than six months before Qatar 2022. But it has ended up changing the mood as even some of the most optimistic Three Lions fans have become being pessimistic about Gareth Southgate’s chances.

Supporters have gone from being upbeat to indifferent and the narrative is now one of negativity around England which is unfathomable when you consider less than a year ago they were in the final of the Euros. They fell in love with Southgate’s men at the 2018 World Cup, enjoyed the passion of last summer… and now the romance is in danger of falling apart.

The Nations League is to blame for that. UEFA’s fledging competition has been a really good thing in doing away with meaningless friendlies, improving the level of lesser nations and it also sets up some heavyweight clashes. It is a good thing for international football. But whoever scheduled four games at the end of a gruelling season needs their head testing and is out of step and tune with players’ welfare. Three games now and three in September would have been better.

Some of the England players are running on fumes, they are absolutely