In fairness, Greg Dyke has a point.

The new Football Association chairman might have been lambasted for saying England are not going to win the World Cup next year but, really, you would have to be inhaling some of the laughing gas Kyle Walker was pictured using to truly believe it.

Yes, a 0-0 draw against Ukraine in Kiev is a decent result. Yes, it means England will complete the qualifying campaign without losing an away game. But let's face it. It wasn't very inspiring.

Other than a long-range effort each from Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, England did not really threaten. It is a rather churlish assessment of an evening Roy Hodgson can be rather pleased with.

His side have edged ahead in the race for Group H and consolidated their status as favourites to advance to Brazil automatically with a result achieved fielding a team shorn of striking options.

But in order to seal the deal, Hodgson's team will have to achieve something they have not managed in four games against decent opposition in this section. Actually win a match.

Against Montenegro, now a point behind - like Ukraine - and Poland, both at Wembley, it should be done, albeit with a few nerves. Yet the world's superpowers will not be shuddering at the replays of this game. Brazil will not be agog at the thought of what is to come.

England are an okay team. Better than most, not as good as some and for all the navel-gazing about foreign imports, that will probably still be the case in 2022. There were a few positives for Hodgson, however.

Defensively England were pretty good and amid the expected early maelstrom, Gary Cahill stood tall. It is fair to say his international career has been something of a slow burner. Now 27, Cahill did not make his debut until 2010, since when his appearances have been sporadic.

A broken jaw on the eve of the tournament wrecked his Euro 2012 hopes. Yet that only partially explains why this was only Cahill's sixth competitive England game. It is a shame too. The Chelsea man has a presence normally associated with clubmate John Terry. The experience he has gathered in the biggest games at club level over the past 18 months was a help as Cahill kept Ukraine at bay.

Indeed, as the noisy home fans pondered the first half during the break, they might have reflected on the knowledge Joe Hart had not been forced to make a meaningful save.

Much of that was due to Cahill but mention should also be made of his defensive colleagues. In this era of super-stardom, Phil Jagielka largely operates under the radar. What an excellent foil he is for Cahill though.

Further forward England were not so hot. Jack Wilshere had a night to forget. Theo Walcott was not much better and Rickie Lambert was a virtual spectator. After the fairytale start to his international career, this was a more sobering experience.

When Montengro head to Wembley next month, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge will be available. It should make the difference. But England need to win. Aside from against San Marino and Moldova, it is not something they have done in this group.