This time, there is no other way of dressing it up.
England were so poor and, after all the pre-tournament excitement and expectation, you could not possibly back them as potential winners after this performance. Gareth Southgate led his players over to the England fans after the final whistle and, as they clapped the ever loyal support, you felt they should have been apologising.
No wonder there was some booing at the final whistle. The England fans deserved better. Make no mistake. England were fortunate to get a draw and a point at least means if they beat Slovenia next Tuesday then they will top the group. All is not lost.
But what England have lost is optimism and momentum. They looked tired, lethargic and without a plan. Denmark were the better team as they had more hunger and desire.
England’s big players did not turn up. Even Harry Kane got substituted. Jude Bellingham was brilliant against Serbia but got so frustrated against Denmark. Nothing went right for him.
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Kane was gifted the 18th-minute opener but England could not even hold onto that lead for long. This must be a brutal wake-up call for England - otherwise they will be going home pretty quickly.
This felt like the bad old days from before Southgate’s reign when England flopped and did not do themselves justice at tournaments. They certainly did not turn up in Frankfurt.
England were woeful at times. This was a performance which should send Southgate back to the drawing board. The system, the players and the tactics just did not work.
Harry Kane slots home England's opener (PA)Trent Alexander-Arnold is just not working in midfield. His passing was poor and he offers no protection to his defence. Even Declan Rice, normally so reliable, was caught dribbling out of his own penalty box.
Kane was substituted with 20 minutes left because he had run out of steam which was a familiar story through the whole team. England boss Southgate did not seem to be able to make the right substitutions and was not brave enough to make the most obvious one of all.
If it is not working - and it was not working for Bellingham - then sometimes you even have to take off your best player. The crazy thing was that England were gift-wrapped a goal. Kyle Walker robbed Victor Kristiansen, put over a low cross which was deflected and there was Kane to score his 64th goal for England in 93 caps.
But rather than try to press home their advantage, they sat back. England were a shambles. Kane’s poor clearance fell to Kristiansen and then Morten Hjulmand rifled in a low shot from 25 yards off the post.
Kane celebrates his goal with Kieran Trippier (Getty Images)No-one closed him down and no-one pressed all night. That is what happens when you use players out of position. Half-time could not come quick enough for England. They were hanging on.
Southgate hooked Alexander-Arnold just nine minutes into the second half and replaced him with Conor Gallagher’s energy and work-rate. England’s balance was immediately better and the tide began to turn a little. Bukayo Saka hit the side netting. Phil Foden smashed a low 20-yard drive against the post.
Morten Hjulmand slams home Denmark's equaliser from distance (AFP via Getty Images)Southgate had seen enough by 70 minutes. Saka, Kane and Foden were all taken off for Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Ollie Watkins. They at least brought more energy but England could not find a way. And now they head to Cologne needing to find some answers pretty quickly.
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Southgate looked lost on the touchline. Out of ideas and maybe out of time. And, worst of all, England’s players looked tired on the back of a long, hard season. The perennial English problem.
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