Same old England.

Hard luck stories will abound, especially Lampard's disallowed goal, but the reality is the Germans killed them in the second half.

Fabio Capello said after the first game that the English jersey 'rests heavily' on his players.

It is the product of decades of teams underachieving, this team just another example.

Even Capello, the $15 million dollar man, likely leaves now after achieving nothing other than a dazzling qualifying campaign that fizzled once the real football was played.

It is hard to know where England can turn now, but they could do worse than an Irishman.

Martin O'Neill has consistently got teams to play above themselves, starting with Leicester City then Celtic and now Aston Villa.

O'Neill would take no nonsense from the gilded players who don the English jersey these days.

It is exactly the kind of message that England players need to hear.

The other problem of course, like in Italy is the strength of the domestic league.
There are simply too many foreign players on the top teams.

Apart from Theo Wolcott who was the last Englishman to play for Arsenal?

Players are not getting blooded by the best sides and it shows.

When you see Emile Heskey trotting on the field you know there is something not right, His best days are far behind him yet he started as the first choice striker.

So England limp home again.

Could an Irishman be the answer to their problems?

Stranger things have happened.