ROB DRAPER: It’s hard to remember a time when an England side had so much strength in depth

Nearly six years ago, England fans showered their team with swear words at Malta’s Ta’Qali Stadium, chanting ‘We’re f****** s***’ and walking out in the second half to going booze on the party strip at St Julian’s rather than being subjected to the team’s mediocrity.

Oddly enough, something similar happened on Friday night. But the indifference this time was due to the game being over before half time. England are so strong these days that even without their Manchester City Treble winners they would be too much for almost any side in Europe let alone Malta.

There really isn’t much to learn from a 4-0 win over Malta, ironically the same score as in 2017. But if we judge England’s year as a whole, significant progress has been made.

The national team surprised observers at the World Cup with – aside from the game in the US – their positivity, breaking the straitjacket of a cautious back five to play 4-3-3. The French player who consoled FA technical director John McDermott after England’s quarter-final exit was candid: he knew France had met their equal in a tight game, which earned Harry Kane’s uncharacteristic missed penalty. England was probably the third best team in Qatar.

Since then, they have won in European Championship qualifying away in Italy with 10 men, their first victory there since 1961, and beat Ukraine. The final of the UEFA Nations League, the second tier competition that replaces friendlies, will take place on Sunday between Spain and Croatia. Watching the semi-final this week you wondered how England weren’t involved as they are stronger.

It is difficult to recall a period when England was more powerful in depth than now

Wilson scored the side’s fourth goal in the game, his second for England in seven games

And then your mind was thrown back to this time last year, 14th June, when Southgate hit rock bottom as England coach, losing 4-0 at Molineux to Hungary in that appalling Nations League campaign where they were beaten twice by Italy and the Hungarians. . “You don’t know what you’re doing,” was the soundtrack to that humiliation. Southgate even briefly considered whether the negativity meant he had to retire for the World Cup. Now that all looks like a weird anomaly.

France, England’s main rivals at Euro 2024, also managed to ruin their Nations League campaign and so Europe’s top two national teams are nowhere near today’s Nations League final in Rotterdam.

As hard as it is to look ahead 12 months – football moves fast – based on where we stand on Sunday it may only take a draw quirk that pits England and France against each other early in the tournament to avoid them participate in the European Championships last year. Portugal could one day beat either team, if they can solve their Ronaldo problem, which is broadly the same as Manchester United’s.

But the heavyweights of Italy, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are a significant step behind England and France. Croatia and Belgium are past their peak, despite the fact that Croatia might take the trophy today, a fitting reward for Luka Modric and his generation.

This may all seem bombastic, but it’s just the cold analysis of playing strength. England’s weaknesses in the early Southgate years were goalkeeper unreliability, center halves and a lack of creative fluidity in midfield.

Jordan Pickford has ridden an era where being good with your feet is now recognized as more important than a single mistake and he has never let England down in a tournament. John Stones is one of the world’s best centre-backs and on Monday against North Macedonia another string could be added to England’s bow: he could return to his club role as a midfielder. “We need to keep studying and learning because the game is constantly evolving before our very eyes, just as European club football is,” Southgate said on Friday.

England have done well in the group stage and qualify at the top of Group C

Trent Alexander-Arnold put in a spectacular performance and also found the back of the net

Gareth Southgate also played young star Eberechi Eze (left) during the game.

And so to the midfield. It may now be England’s strength rather than the problem area that led Southgate to a 5-3-2 draw in 2018. The main reason for that change was not even here on a Friday night. The injured Jude Bellingham has been charming Madrid instead. Knowing Bellingham, he will soon speak sensibly in Spanish as well. If he walks as well as he talks – and there’s no reason to believe this generational talent won’t – then Bellingham could be the key that unlocks a trophy.

“He’s adapted to everything he needed in a short period of time,” said Southgate, who spent time with him in St George’s Park earlier this month to discuss his impending move. “He has adapted very well to life outside the home in Germany. When he came into our group, he came into contact with better known players and great characters. He had the humility off the field to join the pack, but the determination on the field to earn respect. So I’m sure he will find that balance in Madrid. It’s a great opportunity for him.’

Then there’s Declan Rice. Much more than a defensive midfielder, he can play the role with confidence as Kalvin Phillips’ career trajectory is currently flat. And then there’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. It’s been four weeks since Southgate arranged a one-on-one with the Liverpool full-back, célèbre of every Southgate skeptic, to talk him through midfield his route to this England team, an audition that could hardly have gone better in Malta .

“I talked to him about it and he was excited,” Southgate said. “We discussed detailed details: “What would that be [midfield] look like and where did I see it?” He asked intelligent questions.’

Alexander-Arnold is probably England’s best long-range passer since David Beckham and Paul Scholes, so it’s odd that a place hasn’t been found for him: Southgate has now played 84 games and Alexander-Arnold has 19 caps.

Southgate added: “For me the most enjoyable part that a lot of time with England has been difficult is not the relationship as I’ve always got on well with him… trust [now] because you invest in him and something specific that he will feel differently about it. I’m sure he will have enjoyed this game more than any other. I’ve always said he’s a talent we’re trying to find a way with; he has been unlucky that we have such quality and experienced right-backs.

“It’s hard to give someone faith [when not picking them]. It’s a bit like we went to tournaments with five or six wingers. You can’t make them all believe they’re the favored son because ultimately you can’t justify that with your actions. Whenever you bet other players, it will inevitably break someone’s trust.

Harry Kane (right) also scored from the spot during the match, scoring his 56th England goal

Marcus Rashford also proved crucial for England after an excellent season at Man United

“But that doesn’t mean I didn’t see the quality of the player or believe in what’s possible. I don’t think after a game against opponents like this we can say, “That’s it, it’s there.” I said in advance it may not be perfect. I’m sure there will be challenges he didn’t take on, but he did brilliantly and it’s really exciting to move on.”

There’s another twist to England’s midfield three. When Kevin De Bruyne was forced out of the Champions League final due to injury last weekend, it was Phil Foden who took over from Manchester City.

It is difficult to remember in depth a period of greater power. England started on Friday with Foden, Grealish and Rashford on the bench. We haven’t even mentioned Mason Mount or Raheem Sterling yet.

Bellingham, Kane, Foden, Grealish, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Bukayo Saka, Kyle Walker… and that’s not an exhaustive list. All can hold their own against the best in the world. A year is a long time in football. But with the longest season finally coming to a close, it’s hard not to wish for time to fast forward.