He delivered the best pass of the game to Bukayo Saka just before he was subbed, but there is an irony that when he plays in his natural position we see four or five of those in a game.

Elsewhere in the side, nobody loves watching Foden more than me. But for England to come up with a system that works and complements everyone, he can’t operate in the starting XI with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane if they are all trying to occupy the same space and positions.

England need to rethink and zone in on helping the players who have no like-for-like replacements in the squad: Kane and Declan Rice.

Kane correctly remains one of the untouchables – a world-class striker. His best work for England is with two pacey wide men. I would like to see a 4-3-3 with Saka and Anthony Gordon either side of Kane.

Rice is the only proven and high-class holding midfielder Southgate has, but in the first two games he has been overworked and, at times, overrun. He has never looked so exhausted as he did in the second half against the Danes. He had far too much ground to cover and Danish players started to surround him when in possession.

In a 4-3-3, Jude Bellingham will drop deeper to assist Rice, and then it is a choice between the remaining midfielders. There are some suggesting Foden should stay in the side with Bellingham deeper. That wouldn’t change anything tactically.

It has to be a midfielder who will bring energy across the pitch like Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo. That’s not a negative move; it is an essential one.

Too often the definition of being ‘attacking’ or ‘positive’ is to flood the team with goalscorers and creative players. Here’s some news for those who did not already know: nobody can score or create a goal without the ball.

The possession stats in the latter stages of Euros and World Cups are usually around 50-50, or at the most 60-40. You have to accept there will be periods when you suffer. That’s why it is so imperative to include those who can win the ball back. The debate with England is often about adding more quality to the line-up. As Southgate recognised post-match, first and foremost they need more energy and dynamism.

My big worry watching the Denmark game is how shattered so many England players looked. The surest sign of fatigue is dropping too deep. Those trying to claim this was a tactical strategy have got it wrong.

There is no way Southgate is ordering the team to drop back like that after going one-up. But it has happened too often and he has to fix the line-up to stop it reoccurring.

Another midfielder alongside Rice will still enable Bellingham to play as an advancing No 8 when we have the ball. The side would look more balanced. It will also help the player and team for Bellingham to have a more disciplined role defensively.

For Southgate, it is all about being cut-throat and ruthless now to turn the form around. He knows England’s history better than anyone.

In my time, we looked around the dressing room and saw Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes and Michael Owen and thought if we could make it click, anyone could be beaten.

It never happened. Something had to give, but the decision to leave a big name out was never taken when the most consequential games in the knockout phases came along.

For all the criticism of his reign, Southgate has previously avoided those unfavourable comparisons with the so-called ‘golden generation’. This England squad has been as together as any of the past 40 years.

If there is to be a radical improvement, they have to get back to that immediately, which means Southgate has to show courage, rattle cages and leave out some stars for the greater good.

He has nothing to lose. He expects to be leaving after this tournament anyway, so he needn’t worry about any backlash.

Without fresh legs and fresh ideas, this tournament will be filed alongside all those which have haunted his predecessors.