England ended their first international break of the season with three wins, sitting second in their UEFA Nations League group and almost certified for a quarter-final spot.

These recent Nations League fixtures highlighted England's attacking improvement with big wins over Croatia and the Czech Republic.

Questions remain over England and their game management, as memories of Atlanta against Argentina have not faded after the Three Lions crumbled to a 2-1 loss. While they earned praise for their attack in their opening Nations League game against Spain, game management haunted Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions.

Three Lions attacking improvement

After a heart-breaking World Cup semi-final exit against Argentina, England were back in action over the past three weeks as they looked to put their semi-final defeat into distant memory.

Despite their defensive shortcomings in their opening game against Spain, Tuchel's Three Lions finally delivered the football promised for the World Cup, but it wasn't enough.

For much of the World Cup, England played in moments and relied heavily on the partnership of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, which carried them to the semi-final.

In this set of Nations League games, England played as a cohesive team, staying on the front foot with high intensity and fluidity, and carrying their attacking strengths over 90 minutes.

Their 7-0 victory over Croatia marked a shift in how England play going forward, and they followed it up with a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic.

But as encouraging as it is, the shadow of the Atlanta defeat will still hang over this England team until their next major tournament, a home tournament: Euro 2028.

Game management still England's biggest problem

With the talent England have, and one everyone gushes over, can they sustain it in a high-pressure semi-final or final?

The Standard's Football Reporter Dom Smith shared his view on England's game management:

Smith said: "There is definitely uncertainty surrounding England's game management. They are famous for losing leads in big games, including the semi-final against Argentina.

The worst example I've ever seen of England holding on to a lead and trying to protect it without playing their own game or scoring again. Sure enough, it failed, and they went out. We saw something similar in their recent defeat to Spain."

England could have had a 3-1 lead against Spain, but defensive errors and Harry Kane's missed penalty saw the Three Lions crumble against the World Champions, as Smith continued.

Smith said: "England aren't a team that dominates possession by 65% in games against close rivals like France, Spain, or Argentina. Still, they need to be comfortable enough in possession that they offer more than just a counter-attacking threat."

It's important not to get carried away with this run of form, and while it's good to see Tuchel experimenting with his squad, with Morgan Rogers, Alex Scott and Lewis Hall getting chances, it also gives England the freedom to play to their strengths.

It hasn't shown where they stand in terms of game management; they lost to Spain due to a defensive collapse, and England should still beat the Czech Republic and Croatia.

Smith discussed England's recent attacking play and highlighted a key area for improvement.

Smith said: "Counters are definitely England's most efficient way of scoring, but they need to learn how to be comfortable on the ball and learn that possession is a better method of defence than retreating and ceding the ball to your opponents."

This has been England's most successful period in terms of tournament progress and how far they've come, with praise for the attacking players, particularly in recent weeks.

But as good as they are, with a promising attacking team, they haven't delivered because of game-management failures; they paid the price in 2021 against Italy and again this summer, when they lost to Argentina.

When it comes to playing an elite side, England don't finish the game off; instead, they make life difficult for themselves, and it costs them. They'll score first, but it doesn't stick.

Changing tournament perception

Encouraging front-foot football shouldn't distract from their real problem: winning a high-stakes game. England, time and time again, crumble under pressure because they panic and switch, abandoning what worked for them at the start of a game.

England are guaranteed a quarter-final spot in the Nations League, and it offers them a chance to change how they're perceived.

Currently, they are seen as a tournament team that will get out of the group with ease but won't win the tournament, because of the self-inflicted damage they will do to themselves, continuing the long trophy hunt.

Sitting back and hoping for a survival job, as in the second half against Argentina, can't be the strategy, and until England can get past that hurdle, this current brand of football must be taken with a pinch of salt.