Jack Grealish’s Munich cameo showed freedom he feels with England

For Jack Grealish it really does seem to come down to freedom — in his mind, in his game, in the degree to which he is bound by tactical instruction . . . even off the pitch. When is it OK to get sozzled and have a great laugh in public? (Answer: when you have just won your first Premier League title.)

On Tuesday night in Munich Grealish strutted into a situation that felt made for him. England had been second best against Germany for 70 minutes, firing only in fits and starts, wobbly at the back, lacking progressive rhythm and incision. One-nil down, Gareth Southgate turned to Grealish, sending him on with the instruction to express himself, to make something happen. With a flourish the winger did so.

Grealish transformed England with his substitute’s cameo, increasing the tempo, lifting the mood. He drove from the left, fizzing his passes and crosses. He teed up Harry Kane for a huge chance that Manuel Neuer saved, then looked for him in the move that led to the penalty, from which Kane equalised. He also cut back for Kane in stoppage time when the captain almost nicked victory.

“I feel sometimes when I’m here [with England] I can try and play with as much freedom as possible – I felt like I did that,” Grealish said. Which rather invited the follow-up question. Had he not played with said freedom at Manchester City after his £100m move from Aston Villa last summer?

“I do think that, yeah,” Grealish replied. “I feel at times I’ve played a bit safe at City but when I come here I feel like even in training I train really well. Score goals, get assists and whatnot. When I come on the pitch … it’s hard to explain. I do feel like I play with a lot more freedom here and hopefully I can transfer that into my club football and