The fact is when we look at our players the team as a whole was lesser than the sum of the parts. For this I can only blame the manager. The turnip was on a reputed £4,000,000. He made so many mistakes in the run-up to the quarter-final like not taking enough forwards; like taking unfit forwards; like taking Walcott; like not knowing his best formation.

Some things need structurally improving. When we arrange friendlies McClaren needs to tell managers who will not release players to get stuffed. We need to use friendlies as practise matches for the full team and not KEEP making substitutes for the sake of it.

We need to choose a team (built around Gerrard/Hargreaves perhaps, both of whom should probably be there next time) with a formation that suits, and stick to it through friendlies and through the European Championships. Cole, Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry are all young enough to be in the next World Cup team as well and ought to have improved by then. I cannot see Crouch in a team despite his good game yesterday. Hi is too easily played out of the game to my way of thinking.

We need to chose players who are the best for a team, not just the best players, as Ramsey did with Jack Charlton.

We need to stop making basic errors - like the goalie hitting long balls to a lone striker, like hitting "Hollywood" passes to well-marked wingers. We need to know how to keep the ball and play through midfield. These players (Lampard, Gerrard, Hargreaves) do it for their clubs.

We need to watch videos of the Italians defending and learn from them.