A fortunate late victory was sealed by Raheem Sterling’s penalty as England stuttered in their Nations League opener at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavík.

The Nations League may not be a priority to England, but this was still the first match of a long campaign of International games. What previously might have been a series of friendlies building up to either European Championship or World Cup qualifiers is instead a chance to seal a play-off place for major events in the Nations League, though this year’s competition has needed to be altered given the Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent postponement of Euro 2020.

The chance, then, to win a trophy is everything and England, second-favourites in a group also featuring competition from World Cup 2028 enemies Belgium and Denmark needed to start their Nations League campaign with a victory in Iceland.

In truth, Gareth Southgate’s men made a lot harder work of the result than they needed to, although that also owed a little to a twitchy linesman.