As the ball fell from the Wembley sky, Jack Grealish beckoned to Raheem Sterling to step back. This was his stage. His crowd to entertain.

Cushioning the plummeting ball as if he were wearing slippers was a skill he could probably produce in his sleep, but Wembley still fell for the velvet touch like a smitten lover. A great purr went around the stadium, as if Grealish had gone round all 22,500 fans tickling everyone’s tummy.

“Super, Super Jack,” they sang. He could do no wrong — even if he did do a bit wrong, part of the collective fade after half-time as England lost the impressive forward momentum that had carried them through much of the first half.

Never mind that Grealish had dropped off, missed several months of the season and that England needed more power in midfield after 67 minutes — the crowd grumbled a little at Gareth Southgate’s decision to withdraw their darling.

This is how it is now, with Grealish no longer just a thrilling footballer for England. He is a cause. The England manager is free to pick whatever side he likes heading into the last 16 of this Euro in a huge game at Wembley, but large parts of the country may regard it as treason if Grealish is not on the teamsheet.

The clamour is understandable as Grealish delighted his audience in the first half with some sweet touches, several dribbles and a key assist for the only goal, which brought England victory over the Czech Republic, top place in the group and some brief calm.

If Mason Mount cannot play the next game — and self-isolation ruling him out of group training until June 28 surely makes it highly unlikely that he can be involved — then there may be a place for Grealish but you could understand if Southgate was reluctant to make promises.

Saka shines

Grealish was not England’s outstanding player in this win. That honour went to Bukayo Saka, who was superb in everything he did in attack, defence and everywhere in between.

One man’s Covid-19 protocol breach is another’s fantastic opportunity, and Mount’s unavailability through that 22-minute conversation with Billy Gilmour looks very costly.

This was a night when Phil Foden, left out of the squad to avoid picking up another booking, must have watched on a little enviously too, at the freedom given to Grealish, Saka and Sterling to swap positions. Foden had spent too long in England’s first two games shoved out to the right flank and, if that was following orders, it was far too static.

Saka proved thrillingly elusive in that position with a performance which reminded us that Southgate sees things on the training ground that those clamouring for Jadon Sancho from the start do not. No one saw the Saka selection coming, and it was fully vindicated.

Sterling upbeat

Goalscorer Sterling was upbeat about the team’s performance against the Czechs.

“There are positives from the game. We kept the ball better. It gave us more attacking options,” he said.

Written with inputs from Reuters