by Our Sports Desk

Jack Wilshere always expected England to confound the doubters by getting a result in Switzerland, although he knows that performance will not be enough to end the negativity surrounding the national team.

The last few months have been tough for all those associated with the Three Lions, with their disastrous World Cup leading to anger, apathy and, as a half-full Wembley showed last week, increasing indifference.

Those who did turn up for the friendly with Norway were hardly enthused by the tepid 1-0 win against a side ranked 53rd in the world, but on Monday fans at last witnessed a positive performance.

Instead of wilting under the mounting pressure, a Danny Welbeck brace secured England a winning start to their European Championship qualifying campaign in Basle.

Hodgson’s men produced an intense, skilful display as they ran out 2-0 victors against highly-fancied Switzerland, although Wilshere (pictured) does not believe that alone will blow away the negativity.

“No, of course it won’t,” he said. “There still will be people negative and there are some points we need to work on.

“But that was our first time playing that formation and we adapted to it so well.

“The Liverpool players are used to playing it and they really helped with that. You could see that they are comfortable with it and we’ll get better in that (4-4-2 diamond formation).

“We’ll take that into the next game and hopefully get another good result.

“It was a great result. I said in the week we expected to come here and get a result.

“We didn’t surprise ourselves. I know a few people have been saying a few things but we believed in ourselves and we showed that tonight.”

There was much talk about how England would line up at St Jakob-Park, with Hodgson eventually plumping for a 4-4-2 diamond.

They were tactics which appeared to suit the Three Lions well, even with Wilshere deployed in the unusual role of holding midfielder.

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “It is the first time I’ve ever played there for club or country.

“I look at the game and there are some negatives, obviously.

“I looked at the players who play that regularly in midweek, Pirlo, Mascherano, Gerrard — the best players in the world who play that position perfectly.

“I will look at them over the next few months and look at this game. I’ll take negatives, there were some positives as well, and I will get better in that position.”