This was supposed to be the game that showed how far England had come.
Gareth Southgate’s 90th game in charge, against the same opponents and inside the same stadium as his first in October 2016.
Back then it was a front line of Jesse Lingard, Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott that faced Malta, with a 30-year-old Wayne Rooney in midfield.
Now, they’re European finalists, World Cup semi-finalists with a squad that boasts some of the most exciting talent in world football.
Yet while both, in the end, finished 2-0 to England, this was a performance so flat that fans entertained themselves making paper planes.