England still building plane while flying it. How did they get here?

"He’s slightly different to what they have. You could argue that they are more runners. Whereas Adam’s an architect."

England's Adam Wharton during an international friendly at St. James' Park, Newcastle. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

How did England and Gareth Southgate get here? The favourites for Euro 2024 have spent the past couple of days acclimatising in Erfurt, as close to the geographical centre of Germany as one can get. Yet three days out from tournament kickoff, their own centre remains entirely unmapped.

While recent tournament history has proven that, yes, teams can win it all or go damn close with a patched-up attacker out wide or a makeshift full back, it also points to the nations with the most established, esteemed midfields lasting longest. And yet here are England and Southgate, preparing for takeoff knowing they must build the plane while flying it. How did they get here?