FABIO CAPELLO. The most obvious scapegoat, but Capello's man-management, so admired in qualification, unravelled in South Africa.

His players appeared constrained by the lack of freedom off the pitch, and the manager's dated tactical approach meant that, on it, they were no more expressive.

Selection was also poor, with the choice of Matthew Upson and persistence with Emile Heskey, dictating a stagnant, direct approach.

WAYNE ROONEY. England's shining hope failed to sparkle at any time in six hours of football. Remarkably, looking both jaded and unfit, Rooney was as technically poor as he has ever been.

Perhaps it is still the Achilles injury he picked up for Man Utd holding him back, but the 24-year-old looked a player that has had all his Croxteth-learnt skills coached out of him. Perhaps he needs to hit the streets again.

INJURIES. For England to have had any chance they needed their key players firing and the loss of captain Rio Ferdinand proved insurmountable.

Ferdinand has been far from his best in an injury-plagued season but is the only player with the pace and assurance to cope with higher quality opposition. Ledley King bowed out early - and not unexpectedly - to injury, and Matthew Upson was simply not up to the task.

PREMIER LEAGUE. It clearly has its millions of fans but the Premier League does nothing for the chances of the international football team.

The pace of the 38-game season and numerous cup competitions is frantic and the influx of foreign players means the pool of domestic talent with top league experience is forever shrinking. Brazilians and Germans don't retire early to concentrate on club football. England's players do.

COACHING. In striving for results, tactics, formations and the insistence on error-free football are not bedfellows for skill and creativity.

Developing players become inhibited at an early age and reach maturity unable to dribble or retain possession of a football. Don't agree? Look at England's 23-man squad for South Africa and compare it with any other leading nation.

LANDON DONVAN. Despite all the inadequacies outlined above, had it not been for Landon Donovan's last-gasp goal against Algeria, England would have faced Ghana and Uruguay to reach the semi-final.

No given, but the Three Lions were growing into the tournament. Against Germany they created more chances than in any of the Group C games and those gradual improvements - without the hari-kari defending - may have been enough for a last four place.

EUROPEAN HOODOO. No European nation has won the tournament outside of its own continent and there have been few signs it will change in 2010.

The South Americans have been all-conquering with all five making the round of 16 and Chile suffering a defeat.

There will be just three European nations in the quarter-finals compared with six on German soil in 2006. In reality, England never had a chance.