England started their UEFA Nations League campaign on Saturday night with a 3-2 defeat to the World Cup champions, as the Three Lions played their first game since their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Despite the defeat, the Nations League gives England a chance to address their tournament flaws and bridge the gap toward becoming aspiring serial winners.
More competitive games, not casual friendlies, offer a broader view of what England need to do to get over the line and a broader outlook on the problems they still face.
Stronger opposition in a pressure-free environment
The Nations League is a completely different pressure than playing a World Cup semi-final, like they did two months ago.
That means stronger opposition than before, with fewer intense friendlies against lower-quality sides. England want to be a side that can comfortably take on top nations and other elite teams.
The Nations League provides that, as seen on Saturday night when England played Spain at Wembley. Home advantage, not dealing with the enormous pressure of trying to reach a World Cup or European Championship final.
England's flaws more easily recognised
These games are better tournament practice, and while they don't have high stakes, they do allow a deep look at where England are and where they need to improve.
England want to play similar elite nations regularly and work on flaws that have shown up when they've faced top sides at later stages of a major tournament.
The Nations League has been around since 2018 and replaced standard friendly matches against lower-quality nations, which doesn't give a clear picture of where England are as a team or how close they are to finally toppling a top side.
It's normally been fear: sitting in a defensive block and not being confident on the ball, which has haunted the Three Lions in major tournaments and kept them from taking that last step.
Look at the list of teams England have lost to since 2021: whether it's a final, semi-final, or quarter-final, it's been Italy, France, Spain, and most recently Argentina.
The point of these games is for England to work on these flaws and be better prepared for major tournaments. They can take teams on and put pressure on them, as they did on Saturday night, until their own defensive mistakes allowed Spain to capitalise.
Learning opportunities for Three Lions
The Nations League isn't a glamorous competition, and people have their reservations and own feelings about it. But these games present learning experiences for England and Thomas Tuchel.
England currently are a nearly team, never the bride but always the bridesmaids, and are still trying to get past that final hurdle.
England can learn more from a Nations League match against world champions Spain than from any casual friendly or European qualifier.
The Nations League should be a springboard for England, giving them the belief and confidence to take that final step, because as much as it is about beating the best teams, it's also about beating them on the way to winning a tournament.
This has been England's issue.
The Nations League may be the least glorious tournament in international football. Still, for England, it offers a broader view of where they stand in achieving the highest glories in international football.
