Having reached a first World Cup semi-final in 28 years, you’d have thought that England would have performed out of their skin to get there - on the contrary. It could not have been easier for England, with simple, effective tactics putting them on the verge of ending 52 years of hurt.

With Sweden brushed aside with ease in the last eight, maybe England are going all the way, drinking all the vodka in Russia, en route to bringing football home, all at walking pace.

The atmosphere in Samara did not help intensify the tempo early on. The Samara Arena is one of those modern stadiums well on the outskirts of town, with a monumental walk for fans after disembarking public transport.

Therefore, with fans so spread out along this vast, open walkway, the depleted numbers of England fans could only chant in pockets, thus generating little volume.

In the stadium itself, there were empty seats aplenty, which is not something that should be prevalent at a quarter final of a World Cup. The spectacle itself was therefore slow paced as a result, until some further England ingenuity from a set piece set them on their way.

Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland have taken much acclaim for their meticulous work with this England team, utilising knowledge from other sports, including American football, to create further facets to this England outfit.

One such move brought about England’s opener, as Harry Kane acted as an American Football-style blocker, holding off a defender, allowing more space for Harry Maguire to stride onto the end of the corner before powering a header home.

Maguire was again impressive at the back for England, winning 10 aerial duels in the match, keeping it simple, clearing his lines and being an imposing obstacle for an immobile Sweden outfit.

However, once again, England really did not have to be at their best to get the better of a distinctly average Sweden side.

The Swedes are good at many aspects of the game, but do not possess any match-winners in their own right, with a seven out of ten performance often more than enough to beat the boys in yellow.

It is not the first time England have performed to such a level, either. In all three group games, England did not need to reach anything like optimum level to garner the result - whether that be a win or a defeat - they desired.

Last-16 opponents Colombia without James Rodriguez were not the same force. They still had plenty of attacking talent on display, but the Bayern Munich man is the one who makes them tick, their orchestrator-in-chief. Breaking the penalty hoodoo was an additional bonus.

Sweden’s side is full of industrious players, hard workers, and solid defenders, but that is about it. Get in front against the Swedes - who have won just once when conceding first in a competitive match since Brazil 2014 - and there is no looking back.

The fact Jordan Pickford had to bail England out on several occasions shows just how average the performance was. The Everton goalkeeper once again displayed an agility that may be required as England eye a spot in the final.

But will England really need to over exert against Croatia?

Croatia, who were excellent against Argentina, needed a penalty shootout to get the better of a below-par Denmark side in the round-of-16, with Luka Modric and co. looking laboured to say the least.

Feasibly therefore, England could well get to the final, where they will finally meet top calibre opposition in the shape of Belgium or France, without having to really perform, at all.

Of course you can only play what is in front of you, and Southgate has found a system that, at times, has really produced some fine, flowing football.

On the whole, though, consistent quality has been lacking but, incredibly as we enter the last four of the World Cup, it really does not matter. The question is, if England do click, what can they achieve?