Just as some countries naturally gravitate to first place, England have a habit of ending up second. There are the games when they are distinctly — at times grievously, embarrassingly — second best, such as 2010’s evisceration by Germany or 2012’s exercise in watching Italy pass the ball.
More often, however, are the times they come second in a group they could, perhaps should, have won.
The 2010 World Cup was a case in point. The Sun, the best-selling newspaper in the United Kingdom, had branded the pool 'EASY', an acronym for England, Algeria, Slovenia and, er, Yanks, but the United States finished first and Fabio Capello's team were plunged into their disastrous meeting with Germany.
Now they have visited Saint-Etienne twice, each with second place on their minds. Their previous trip, when Argentina eliminated them from the 1998 World Cup, came because England had failed to win a winnable group. They returned in first place. After a 0-0 draw with Slovakia, they ceded top spot to Wales.
More from Euro 2016:
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• Andy Mitten's Euro 2016 diary: A sea of red and black in Lyon as Albania fans witness history
• Misfiring strikers: Why are big guns like Ronaldo, Muller, Lewandowski and Kane failing to fire?
Even if they negotiate a last-16 tie, they are now on course to meet France in the quarter-finals. Good luck with that. England may have won all 10 of their qualifying games, but they have now only triumphed in three of 10 in tournaments under Roy Hodgson; it is not the record of a top-class manager. Feted four days earlier, the 68-year-old Englishman may be castigated now.
While individual cases produced different conclusions — bringing in Nathaniel Clyne worked, bringing in Jack Wilshere did not — Hodgson should brace himself for criticism. He made six changes and England failed to win.
And, regardless of personnel or opposition, England’s games have conformed to a familiar theme. But for Daniel Sturridge’s 92nd-minute decider against Wales, they would have had three draws. Instead, three encouraging displays have produced only one good result.
This England team represent a break with the past, from the dull sides with their misplaced sense of entitlement. They are watchable, but not entirely persuasive. They are not ruthless enough; indeed they are not creative enough. They are personified by Adam Lallana, the eager exponent of the pressing game who seems to have done much right in Euro 2016 but lacks conviction in front of goal and is yet to score in 26 internationals.
And there are too few enough clear-cut chances. England are yet to score in the first half, meaning the closing stages tend to become fraught affairs.
Hodgson overloaded with attackers, just as he had against Wales. This time, however, there was no dramatic denouement. Slovakia defended admirably, rather than remarkably. Martin Skrtel did well to clear the substitute Dele Alli’s shot off the line but Matus Kozacik’s best save probably counts as a miss by Jamie Vardy, who shot straight at the goalkeeper.
England’s domination of matches is rarely decisive.
Their outstanding individuals have not been the out-and-out attackers. Eric Dier is having a terrific tournament at the base of the midfield. Clyne showed similar dynamism to the rested Kyle Walker, almost scored and presented a legitimate case to start in his stead in the last 16, terrific as the Tottenham man has been. Jordan Henderson created two of England’s best chances and yet was still selected as a scapegoat on social media.
He will probably revert to the bench, with Alli and Wayne Rooney likely to return. The broader issue, regardless of individuals, is that they want to play 4-3-3, but, apart from the out-of-form Raheem Sterling, their attacking personnel all prefer central roles. Clyne offered width but England have too little. He could go forward because Slovakia rarely counter-attacked.
England will face more threatening opponents soon; possibly Portugal next. Slovakia were unambitious but they were entitled to adopt that approach. A fourth point is very likely to take them through. That is success for them. It is not for England. Finishing second plunges them into the tougher half of the draw. History has repeated itself. The precedents from the past are worrying.
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