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'It started off as a really good idea that got ruined': One year since footballers first 'took the knee', those in and around the game say the controversial gesture has been hijacked and diluted

It started with a simple gesture. In the ghostly silence of Villa Park, as football returned after a 100 day absence, all 22 players of Aston Villa and Sheffield United dropped to one knee.

The message was clear, the image united.

A year on, and the picture is more divided than ever. England played their first game of a major tournament against Croatia on Sunday in front of their own fans at Wembley. The players took the knee; most supporters applauded, drowning out the smattering of boos.

Gareth Southgate spent more time in the build-up defending his team's position than answering questions about who'll start at right back and how he gets Jack Grealish into the team.