On the one hand Gareth Southgate may feel gratified but, on the other, he might detect significant cause for concern. Surely Germany will be better than this when they face England at Wembley on Tuesday, an outcome that for most of a chaotic night seemed beyond them, and if they are not then those Euro 96 ghosts will probably be banished at last. They were six minutes from finishing bottom of Group F and this result was an affront to a dogged, clever Hungary side who came close to completing a shock for the ages.
It would have been Hungary rolling back the years, albeit a few decades further, in London if the substitute Leon Goretzka had not hammered low past Peter Gulacsi from 16 yards to equalise and break their hearts.