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There are few big games in the life of any manager when he can stand on the touchline, take a deep draught of the night air, reflect on his fine work, and quite frankly - enjoy the occasion, but for a solid 30 minutes in Rome that was the privilege of Gareth Southgate.

He now stands clear as the second-greatest England manager of all-time, behind only Sir Alf Ramsey, who is the other to have taken the national team to two consecutive semi-finals at major international tournaments. No-one will forget this July evening in Rome when Ukraine were flattened by three second half goals in the space of 19 minutes and the great tournament anxiety of England was replaced by something unexpected a second half that was la dolce vita. A cruise into the semi-finals where Denmark await on Wednesday at Wembley.

This was, once again, something beautiful for England. They have tamed Euro 2020 thus far to the extent that they arrive back in London in the early hours of Sunday morning having not yet conceded a goal in five tournament games. What strange sorcery is this? Nothing more complicated than another masterclass from Harry Maguire and John Stones, two assists for their left-back accomplice Luke Shaw, and this despite a second half change of four players including two to protect those for whom a suspension threatened.

At the other end, two more goals for Harry Kane, the old marksman once again picking off his targets. There was a goal from the unstoppable Maguire. Then, in the 63rd minute, a collectors item for all those England fans who had embarked to Rome from their Covid-safe destinations across Europe: Jordan Henderson scored. It had only taken him 62 caps, 3,997 international minutes, and at least one that was disallowed, for his first England goal. The thought occurred: are England starting to showboat?

For Southgate the challenges of this game dissolved, and he could enjoy how far his team has come. Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, both superb in their control, despite the yellow cards hanging over them, were summoned for a breather. So too Sterling and Kane, and through four substitutions, Southgate still had Phil Foden and Jack Grealish on the bench. There was a time when Southgate was being told he could not win without the pair. And that time was about two weeks ago.

They took the lead within three minutes and 34 seconds of the game, although the first half was close that goal from Kane forcing Ukraine to abandon the dense yellow wheatfield of five defenders and three screening midfielders. Their new impetus challenged England in the first half, when Roman Yaremchuk was a threat and Kyle Walker seemed to have lost his bearings again. Ukraine were in the match and then very quickly they were out the tournament as their second half collapsed.

Read more:
England vs Ukraine, Euro 2020 quarter-final: Kick-off time, TV channel and how to watch live tonight - The Telegraph