England v Spain: Joe Hart learning to rein in his passionate approach

The 29-year-old was one of the most experienced players in a callow Three Lions squad in France, leading on the pitch as well as off it.

Hart’s passion was palpable, but did not translate into successful displays, being embarrassed by Wales’ Gareth Bale and, most crucially, Iceland striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

A lot has changed since the Euro 2016 humiliation, with the goalkeeper making a surprise loan switch to Torino after being marginalised by new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

However, the Spaniard’s wariness, and some poor Euro 2016 displays, did not cost him his spot as England’s No 1.

Roy Hodgson’s successor Sam Allardyce kept faith as has interim boss Gareth Southgate, who told Hart before his man-of-the-match display in Slovenia last month that he was better when calm and composed.

“I’m always trying to learn and adapt,” Hart said when asked if he was getting too pumped up.

“Obviously the Euros wasn’t my finest hour, so I needed to have a think and pick apart how I played and what I did, and maybe change a few things, speaking to the people who count and seeking advice. Even with Gareth, we spoke about it.

“You find a way. I’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of passion. Questionably it could have been too much.

“But there are ways of channelling that. I’m constantly changing and evolving, trying to be the best I can be.

“Learning from things that didn’t go too well is definitely a way of doing that.”

Such focus is borne out of an overall desire to improve, but it is clear that too much adrenaline can hinder performance.

“There are just different ways of channelling it,” Hart said.

“There’s nothing wrong with (being) positive, being passionate and proud of your country is definitely a positive.

“But there’s different ways of channelling it. I’ve looked into that, and hopefully it will help.”

Hart is learning a lot on and off the field right now, with Italian lessons well under way in a country where training is far more tactical.

Few could have foreseen the England goalkeeper’s career panning out as it has, but he is enjoying life with Torino after finding himself out of favour at City.

“I enjoy football, either way,” he said. “Like I said before, it was a situation, but it was what it was.

“I was never pushed away or training on my own. I just wasn’t part of the team. You have to be able to deal with that and I was told I needed to find somewhere else to play, got the opportunity and here I am.

“It was a different situation, but nothing that was too far out of my comfort zone. I’m really happy that I’ve still been able to come back and play with the England team, and enjoy that as well.”

Hart’s departure was down to Guardiola’s preference for a goalkeeper more comfortable in possession, so a return to the Etihad Stadium would appear unlikely next summer.

“I’m just enjoying my time in Torino,” he said when asked about the future.

“I’m a Torino player for this season. I’ve got two years on my contract after this season.

“It’s difficult to look too far ahead of that and, without passing the buck, it’s not really my responsibility to think about. The City fans have always been fantastic to me and showed me a lot of support and it’s a club I will always hold dear to my heart.”

International rather than club matters are the immediate focus as Spain arrive for a glamour friendly at Wembley tonight, when being caught at the back as England were against Scotland in Friday’s World Cup qualifier could prove costly.

However, the backline retains Hart’s confidence as does Southgate’s philosophy as his four-match stint comes to an end.

“It’s been really enjoyable,” he said of life under the interim boss. “He’s really, really cool and calm – it’s no act – and that transferred to the players and we feel comfortable.

“Like he said, we’re trying to express ourselves as a team and find an identity. It’s really difficult for an international manager to do that I think, because you get such little time together and we’re very new.

“But I feel we’ve got a really good squad in terms of wanting to learn and work for each other and that came forward on Friday and hopefully again (tonight).”