IT’S a well-worn footballing cliche that you can only beat the team in front of you. But in most regards England taking until the 91st minute to secure victory over Tunisia doesn’t look good.  

Nevertheless, with three points in the bag, and a widely expected second victory against Panama tomorrow, England’s third match versus Belgium no longer looks as critical as it might have done. 

If last 16 qualification has been secured by Monday, and the certainly beatable likely opponents of Senegal, Japan or Poland are next up after Belgium, thoughts will inevitably turn to a possible quarter-final.