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The first edition of the UEFA Nation's League finished the way so many competitions seem to in the modern era - with a trophy in the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo as Portugal overcame the challenge of Switzerland and Netherlands to win the inaugural competition.
All the hopes of Gareth Southgate's England winning the competition was ended by defeat in the hands of a much improved Holland side in the semi-final before they secured a third place finish with a penalty shoot-out victory over Switzerland.
Since Southgate took on the role in 2016, it can't be denied that significant progress has been made. Reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup and finishing third in the inaugural Nation's League are undoubtedly fine achievements and represent real progress from the dismal failures of 2014 and 2016.
However, for England to mount a real challenge to win Euro 2020, there are still a number of issues for Southgate to resolve in order to get the best out of his talented squad.
In this article we take a look at the five key problems for Southgate and his coaching team to solve.
#1 Full backs
England played three-at-the-back relatively successfully in Russia but since then Southgate has preferred to field a back four. A poor season for Kieran Trippier at Tottenham has seen him drop out of the international fold for the time being and allowed Kyle Walker to re-establish himself as the first choice right-back. However Walker's position is now under threat from the emerging talent of Trent Alexander Arnold.
Southgate has tended to lean towards Walker's experience so far and the two time Premier League winner rarely lets England down when he is playing in his preferred position.
However, to win the biggest tournaments, you have to be willing to take risks and at some point the manager needs to look beyond Alexander-Arnold's relative lack of experience and recognise that the Liverpool youngster is not only the best English right back, but also one of the best in the world.
On the other side of the pitch, the left back position is one that hasn't been satisfactorily filled since the retirement of Ashley Cole. Leighton Baines, Danny Rose, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell have all had opportunities to fill the void without ever really making the position their own.
It is great that the manager has viable options in this position but he really needs one of the current crop to stamp their name on it. In this writer's opinion Ben Chilwell seems the best option and I think Southgate is also leaning that way. If that is the case he needs to be given a run of games to feel fully confident in the role.
One other option that may yet emerge is the wildly talented Ryan Sessegnon who has just been relegated with Fulham. But he will need to secure a move to a Premier League side this summer to make it happen.
#2 Harry Maguire's central defensive partner
One of the key lessons learned from the Nation's League should be the realisation that John Stones is not good enough to play international football.
Two dreadful mistakes on the ball cost England dearly in the semi-final. While Southgate was correct to defend him in public he must acknowledge that it is now time to consider other options to play alongside the ever-improving Harry Maguire.
One option if he can get a bit of luck with injuries is Liverpool's Joe Gomez. His absences with injury have prevented him from really establishing himself with club or country but the benefit of a good understanding with Trent Alexander-Arnold may also benefit England in the short and long term.
Other options to be considered include James Tarkowski and Michael Keane but neither player particularly impressed in 2018-19.
One man who has yet to be given any sort of opportunity is Newcastle United defender Jamaal Lascelles. Lascelles is not as good in possession as the other options but he has been a solid presence for Newcastle over the last two seasons. He is strong, athletic and reads the game well.
He is certainly worth a try.
#3 Can he get Phil Foden in the team?
Another area of the pitch where Southgate is still searching for the right formula is in the middle of the pitch. Players like Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Ross Barkley and Dele Alli have all been given plenty of opportunities without ever really making the position their own.
Phil Foden could be the answer - the problem is him getting enough club football minutes with Manchester City to convince Southgate he is ready for the step up to full fleged international football.
He played a lot more games in 2018-19 but is still nowhere near playing enough football to convince the manager that he is ready.
The flip side of that argument is if Southgate is already convinced he has what it takes, one could certainly make a compelling case for his inclusion given how well he has played for Manchester City when he has made it onto the pitch.
If he's good enough then surely he is old enough. The first few months of next season for Foden will be key. If he isn't getting the game time he wants then perhaps a loan move in January might benefit all parties and get him the minutes he needs to really state his case for inclusion.
#4 Getting the best out of Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling is a player who has often been made a scapegoat when England play poorly. There can be no doubt that Sterling has just enjoyed the best season of his career for club and country.
Three domestic trophies with Manchester City, scoring 25 goals along the way, he also won a host of the most prestigious individual awards as his efforts on and off the pitch were recognised.
He also broke a three year scoring duck for England in October with a spectacular double against Spain, before scoring his first hat-trick for his country in a 5-0 thrashing of Czech Republic.
However a feeling persists that he still doesn't quite deliver for England in every single game, with no game more evident than the third place play off against Switzerland in the Nations League.
Sterling was involved in everything that England did well in that game, but crucially he had forgotten his shooting boots as chance after chance went begging.
It might seem harsh in the grand scheme of things - England would go on to win the game on penalties - but imagine if he has another off day like that in the semi-finals of Euro 2020. On the big occasion you need your best players to take their chances and too often - for England at least - Sterling often misses.
For Manchester City that often doesn't matter - another chance is always just around the corner - but for England, in tight games you might only get one chance. Cristiano Ronaldo never lets Portugal down and England need the same from Sterling to truly challenge for their first major trophy since 1966.
#5 The right attacking combination
Since Southgate has been manager the only automatic pick in his side has been captain Harry Kane.
Whenever he has been fit (or often half-fit) he has always found his way onto the team sheet. His goal record for club and country tends to justify his selection.
Perhaps unfairly, given how little football he had played due to injury, Kane faced some criticism for his performances in the Champions League final and Nations League. He looked sluggish and carried little threat in any of the games.
While he has been nowhere near as prolific as Kane there is a growing suspicion that a player like Marcus Rashford might be a better player to lead Southgate's forward line. He was outstanding when flanked by Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho in the semi-final game against Holland and his pace and power has the potential to trouble even the best defenders in the world.
However, the 21-year-old does still lack Kane's consistency of performance. However, if he manages to score 20+ goals next season he will give his manager a real decision to make.
