Have I justified my selection? That’s the question Raheem Sterling threw back at the interviewer following his winning goal against Croatia after England’s opening game of 2020. I watched that exchange and shared Raheem’s astonishment that anyone would consider it a surprise he was picked. In an England shirt, there is nothing for him to justify.

If he was inclined towards sarcasm, Sterling might have repeated those words after another match-winning goal against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, when despite an excellent personal performance – especially in the first half when he hit the post as well as scoring – most of the praise is being showered on others.

When Sterling was subbed for Marcus Rashford halfway through the second half – a sure sign of the manager keeping him fresh for the last 16 – there was applause from the Wembley crowd.

When Jack Grealish was replaced by Jude Bellingham a few minutes later, some of the spectators booed as if the most valuable player was being taken off. Encouraging as Grealish was, that is a bizarre misreading of the levels of seniority and importance in this England side right now.

This is reflective of a strange, general reluctance to acknowledge how good Sterling is for England. Whenever suggested teams are proposed, those championing the case for others’ inclusion seem to view Sterling’s position as vulnerable, or worthy of debate. It really isn’t.

Going into this tournament, there were two must-have attackers on Gareth Southgate’s team sheet. The first was Harry Kane. The second was Sterling.

Over the first three games, based on form and all-round contribution, Sterling has gone ahead of Kane as England’s most important and dynamic player.

His numbers for club and country over the last three seasons exceed anyone else in the squad.

Since 2018, at club level Sterling has recorded the most goal involvements (goals and assists combined) than any other England player (110). He’s been operating at the same productive rate for his country. Tuesday night’s goal was Sterling’s 14th in his last 19 internationals.

When Southgate and his assistants prepare for each fixture, you can be sure they spend minimal time considering what Sterling will offer because they trust him so much. He will never be taken for granted by the England coach. There is an argument he is being taken for granted by England fans.

Whoever England play in the last 16, which player do you think the opposition coach will spend most time telling his defenders to deal with? The forwards who keep dropping deep and exchanging passes 50 yards from goal, or the winger who constantly runs beyond the last defender and unsettles the defensive line? England’s next opponents would be celebrating before kick-off if the team sheet materialised and Sterling’s name was not on it. I am not sure that is true at this moment of any other player in the squad.

Some players suffer hyper-criticism when they do not perform which is not balanced by the accolades deserved when they do.

Sterling’s Champions League final performance, when he was well shackled by Chelsea’s Reece James, prompted plenty of post-game analysis of his recent form.

There appears to be an undercurrent of cynicism about how good Sterling actually is, the under-par performances pounced upon as evidence he is not quite at the level of the world’s best, and the high-class performances ignored because they inconveniently undermine the argument he is one of the two best English footballers of this generation. When it comes to being the most underrated England player of this era, Sterling is out on his own.

I can’t believe I have read some reports suggesting he could be a makeweight in a deal to take Kane to City. With respect, do people think Sterling is at a point in his career where he would join Spurs? Are they serious? If he was available, top Champions League clubs would be queuing up for him.

He has made the most telling contribution to take his country into the last 16 of the Euros, is  England’s only scorer so far and is the only player who looked capable of creating a chance in the goalless draw with Scotland.

There were plenty of decent performers in a white shirt on Tuesday night, but – on the basis of the first three games – the quest to be England’s player of the tournament is a one-horse race.