The entertainment value of last Tuesday’s match in Kiev was such that if there was a freshly-painted fence handy, watching it dry might have been slightly more engrossing.
That, though, isn’t the point. The only thing that mattered in Ukraine was that England didn’t get beaten.
It was unrealistic to expect free-flowing football in a match of such significance to the outcome of the group, particularly considering the visitors’ injury list.
It was a night to get organised, dig in and fly home still on course to qualify for Brazil.
That’s exactly what Roy Hodgson did and he ought to be given credit.
His one mistake was to then describe the match as “good quality” when it clearly wasn’t.
Gary Lineker is in the habit these days of causing something of a tabloid firestorm with his international night tweeting.
He accused Hodgson of taking England back to the Dark Ages a few months ago, and after the draw in Kiev he described them as awful.
That sort of stuff is meat and drink for headline-writers, and Hodgson doesn’t have too many champions in the media.
He’s been lampooned for the way he speaks, and lambasted for discussing team selection with fans on the London Underground.
He’s a pleasant man with little obvious charisma, and that doesn’t tick the right boxes for those who crave the brashness of Jose Mourinho or the chatty chumminess of Harry Redknapp.
Kevin Keegan once famously said: “If you’re looking for a manager to get a 0-0 draw in Ukraine, I’m not the man.”
Hodgson is exactly the man. To him, a draw away from home is always acceptable and usually achievable.
He has always been regarded as a pragmatic, unambitious coach.
His record of one defeat in 20 matches hasn’t altered that perception because there have been too many draws in matches that count.
That has to change next month.
The much-repeated mantra “it’s in our hands now” assumes that victories over Montenegro and Poland at Wembley are mere formalities.
Anyone who has watched England struggle at home under successive managers will know that’s a big assumption.
But, remember, the victories don’t have to be impressive. Two boring 1-0 wins will do nicely.
We’re at the stage of a qualification campaign that Sir Alex Ferguson would describe as “squeaky bum time.”
It’s when character and professionalism become more important than putting on a show.
This England manager may never send out a team that gets the audience out of their seats.
But, at the moment, that’s not his job.
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