Add to the context that England were missing key players that could lift the team up the field, a box to box replacement for a worn-out Gerard. Both flanks had a disappointment tournament and I can’t help feel Hodgeson protected the young lad and waited in hope that Young would produce something !

We move on to the next one in hope of, if not a chance of winning, at least a chance of forming some sort of recognisable style or method of producing the results we need. This is something The England has failed to produce since Bobby Robson was hounded out of office.

This is of course understandable as England is a football mad nation and very patriotic.

I therefore only wonder how it can be that the last generation of England players appear to have lost their patriotism. It would seem like they are looking at playing for England as little more than distraction from their daily, well paid jobs playing in the Premier League.

This might be looked upon as an unmerited comment, and I am sure the players would say that the above statement is utter rubbish, and that they take great pride in playing for England…

It is however noticeable how some of the countries who haven’t got Superstars like England and Holland are performing just as well as the two countries mentioned before.

Take a country like Denmark. There only “Superstar” is Niklas Bendtner (and he might actually be only person who thinks he is a Superstar).

Even though the value of the total Danish squad at the Euro 2012 would be half the price of Rooney, they fight with a spirit and togetherness which makes them grind out results finishing above Portugal at the last two qualifying campaigns and beating Holland earlier this month.

The majority of the Danish players are playing in leagues with lesser reputation that the Premier League, such as the Dutch, French, Belgium or Danish league with the important point being, they play much better when playing for their country compared to playing for the club team.

This is the complete opposite to the England team we have seen at the last few finals.

If England is to win anything of any importance it is not just the playing style which needs to change, but more importantly the mentality the players have when wearing their England shirt.

The players must start to put their country first, and if not prepared to do so perhaps they are not worthy of wearing the three lions.