Anthony Gordon fell off his bike during the European Championship in Germany,and so England's hopes of finding top gear were duly punctured.
Gareth Southgate did not use the winger again. It was said he was miffed by both the crash - Gordon was using his mobile phone - and the player then telling the media that England's style was too predictable.
It did not take a genius to decode Gordon's meaning - play me,I'll make us unpredictable. But it did not take a genius,either,to realise he was exactly what England did need.
In his five minutes against Slovenia in the final group game - remarkably,his only involvement of the tournament - he broke both the lines and the tedium of England's play. If it was an audition,he had landed a more prominent role. Two days later he flew over his handlebars and Southgate,to the detriment of the team,decided to keep the stabilisers on during the knockout rounds.
There were two great frustrations in Germany this summer - delayed trains and Gordon sitting on the bench. At least Deutsche Bahn did delay repay. England,by contrast,will forever be counting the cost of not using the one player who could have got them up to speed.
Here in Dublin on Saturday,Lee Carsley ventured down the right track,picking Gordon - a left-winger - on the left-wing. A simple solution to what had become a complex problem
'I think that expression,that freedom to express yourself,' he said. 'You could say we controlled all our games,but I don't think we were very dynamic. We weren't killing teams,we weren't relentless in trying to score goals. We lacked a bit of excitement.'
Completing the trilogy,he was asked after Saturday's game why England looked different under Carsley.
'I think freedom,' said Gordon. 'Not structured players here,there and everywhere. You had Jack (Grealish) going all over the pitch and they couldn't really pick him up. Me and Bukayo (Saka) tried to hold the width and make runs in behind,so the lads could get in the ball more.
'It was sort of positionless football in a sense,where people can pick the ball up wherever,intricate passing,but always with the main focus of trying to score goals.'
In just one game,Carsley has shown where England went wrong in the previous seven. Play Gordon. It's as simple as riding a bike,you might say.
GermanyAnthony GordonGareth Southgate
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