For a country that gave us Rembrandt and Van Gogh, this was not Holland at their most picturesque. It may have a been a friendly but the lifeless 1-1 draw against England cried out for the Dutch masters of yesteryear.

During the 1974 World Cup, Holland gave birth to Total Football, embroidering the game with some of the most creative passing patterns ever seen. Even now you can still see the beautiful Johan Cruyff drag-backing the ball and then twisting and turning defenders until they were totally confused. There was the feline grace of Rob Rensenbrink, a player of poise and vision. Then there was Johan Neeskens, patrolling the pitch like a Dutch security guard on duty. And who could ever forget the ferocious shooting of Ruud Krol?

In 2006, however, the citizens of Amsterdam could have been forgiven for taking a stroll along the city’s famous canals, such was the aimless nature of the national team’s performance. Holland may have been football’s carefree court jesters in the past but now the verve and vitality had gone.

England for their part were supposed to be recovering from their Euro 2008 qualifying horror shows against Macedonia and Croatia. Admittedly, they didn’t look quite as punch-drunk in Amsterdam but there was still a rustiness and predictability about the team. It was rather like watching a wounded animal wobbling on its legs.

Holland had several key players missing, including the superbly influential Arsenal winger Robin van Persie and Real Madrid’s Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

Without Van Nistelrooy and van Persie, Holland lack vital pulleys and levers, men who can make a team tick. But sadly, the whole national team were desperately short on finesse and ideas and would still have been looking for a winner at midnight.

The central midfield pairing of Urby Emmanuelson, Denny Landzaat and Stijn Schaars never really gelled as a unit, often wandering onto completely different wavelengths. The most threatening of Dutch players had to be the thoughtful Clarence Seedorf, but even he looked groggy.

As for England, this was an adequate display that, without ever reaching the heights of greatness, showed occasional glimpses of style. Throughout the team there is a greater understanding and cohesion that has to be pleasing.

Joe Cole was by far England’s brightest diamond wide on the left. He always looks like one of the greatest midfield finds since the late Duncan Edwards but when he drifts past players you always fear for the final killer pass.

Both Cole and Steven Gerrard gave England’s midfield a substance and structure not seen in previous matches. Gerrard almost scored a winning goal after breaking into the penalty area with a typical buccaneering run. Frank Lampard, after a poor run of form, also controlled most of the middle of the park and Wayne Rooney, who glanced home England’s goal from Cole’s cross, is back to his bruising and bustling best.

When Rafael Van de Vaart thumped home Holland’s equalising drive, the home crowd, as quiet as a doormouse for most of the game, burst into boisterous life. The drums seemed to get louder and the volume levels shot up noticeably. This had not been a night of delicate Dutch brushwork - but English grit and graft had the final word.