29.03.2016 23:08 h

Five things we learnt from England v Netherlands

England were beaten 2-1 by the Netherlands in a friendly on Tuesday. Here AFP Sports looks at five things we learnt from the Euro 2016 warm-up at Wembley:

Vardy adds to growing reputation

Jamie Vardy has emerged as the most uplifting story of the season after firing Leicester to within touching distance of the Premier League title and the striker's strong showing against the Netherlands suggests he will thrive at Euro 2016 as well.

Going into this fixture, the 29-year-old former non-league player, who came off the bench to bag his first goal for England in their 3-2 win over world champions Germany on Saturday, had struck 20 times for club and country in his remarkable breakthrough campaign.

Few can have been easier than his 21st, which came in the 41st minute against the Netherlands when he was left totally unmarked to lift Kyle Walker's cross into the roof of the net from six yards.

Stones not top of the bill

John Stones is widely regarded as the future of England's defence, but the Everton centre-back has suffered something of a crisis of confidence lately and may have cost himself a Euro 2016 starting role with another error-strewn performance.

His anxiety was clear to see as he twice put England in difficult positions with careless passes from deep inside his own half in the early stages.

There was worse to come for the 21-year-old early in the second half when he completely lost his footing and allowed Vincent Janssen a chance that should have been converted.

Jury still out on Sturridge

Daniel Sturridge was hoping to convince Roy Hodgson of his value as the fulcrum of England's attack, yet the Liverpool striker's subdued display could consign him to a bit-part role in France.

A series of injuries since his last cap in September 2014 have left Sturridge as something of an enigma, but Hodgson is intrigued by the 26-year-old, who started all three England games at the 2014 World Cup.

However, Sturridge was unable to seize his chance against the Dutch and he failed to take the only two chances to come his way before being substituted in the second half.

Drinkwater shines on debut

Danny Drinkwater's England debut was a fitting reward for the Leicester midfielder's influential displays in the Premier League and he could be ready to make the step up to international level just in time for the Euros.

After failing to make the grade at Manchester United, Drinkwater has emerged from the obscurity of loan spells at Huddersfield, Cardiff, Watford and Barnsley to become an industrious presence at the heart of Leicester's march towards the Premier League title.

The 26-year-old was equally combative in a deep-lying role against the Netherlands and will hope he has done enough to remain in Hodgson's plans.

Hope amid the gloom for Netherlands

Just days after Johan Cruyff's death, the promising youngsters that hope to follow in his foot steps for the Netherlands provided a welcome glimpse of their potential.

Danny Blind's side will be one of the most notable absentees from the Euros after the 2014 World Cup semi-finalists failed to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 1984.

But there was encouragement against England from the displays of Riechedly Bazoer, Vincent Janssen, who converted their penalty equaliser, and match-winning substitute Luciano Narsingh.