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In the 2-1 victory against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) England achieved something they had not done for six decades: win a World Cup match after going 1-0 down. The 1966 final was the only previous instance, with England losing 17 of the other 22 matches in which they conceded the first goal in the competition.

Opta provided an example of a rather more niche statistical feat that also occurred for the first time in 60 years. This one will not resonate so immediately but highlights an important aspect of the tactical story of England’s campaign this summer.

Thomas Tuchel’s side attempted 35 crosses in open play against the DRC. Not since 1966 had they delivered as many in one match at a World Cup. Seven of their top-10 examples occurred under Alf Ramsey, with other instances in 1982 and 1998. It was a real throwback performance for cross volume.

Tuchel presumably wasn’t bellowing “sling it into the mixer”, or other cliches from English football’s past on the touchline in Atlanta on Wednesday. Graham Taylor he is not. But as his men knew from their goalless draw with Ghana, it’s hard to play through a solid defence. Crossing is a strategy that can work in such circumstances.

It can also be wildly inefficient. Across the previous 17 seasons of Premier League football, 22.8% of crosses reached a teammate. If that doesn’t sound so bad, bear in mind 12.6% of attempted crosses directly created a chance, with only 1.4% of them becoming assists. Those figures include set pieces, with open-play numbers lower still.

It helps to have a forward of the quality of Harry Kane on the receiving end. Anthony Gordon provided the cross against the DRC from which the England captain equalised. Jude Bellingham collected an assist from a very similar location on the left of the penalty box when he set up Kane’s goal against Panama. Even when not quite so fruitful, open-play crosses have been integral to England’s creativity this summer. They have generated a higher expected-goal total than any other style of delivery.

Passes between players outside the penalty box have been the most common source of created chances. They will occasionally result in a goal, as when Bellingham dribbled into the box against Croatia or Kane smashed in the winner against the DRC.

England’s highest-quality chances on average have come from passes into the box, but they are harder to complete against deep-lying defences. This could prove easier against better, more open, teams, though Tuchel’s side will have the ball less often too. The old-school crossing approach has fashioned many of their best opportunities.

Opta classifies shots where you would reasonably expect the attacker to score as big chances. England have had 20 of them, the most of any team at the World Cup after the matches played on Wednesday, with more originating from open-play crosses (six) than any other type of delivery. Adding in the three from corners means almost half have come via wide areas.

We may not have to wait 60 years to see England attempt so many open-play crosses again.