Who said that the under-21s wouldn't get experience of what it's like playing for England if they weren't in the senior team? It seems they suffered the same expectations and crushing disappointment than their elders have dealt with for the best part of a decade. The hopes for the future of English football were sent packing, with no points from three games. They scored one goal in the entire 270-plus minutes of play; it was a penalty.

Stuart Pearce refused to make excuses for his players. stating that they would have to explain themselves. On the one hand, it is easy to see why the manager was so annoyed with his players; after five years with the squad (albeit with players leaving and being promoted), Pearce must have been at a loss to explain why his usually successful tactics which have led to England qualifying for four successive tournaments, and even reaching the final of one, were not carried out.

However, on the other hand, it has to be questioned why Pearce was not able to get the players playing the way he wanted them to. The link-up play was shoddy, the passing was off, and the striker(s) were often left isolated with the midfield not able to locate and support them. Whether Pearce was not explicit enough, or whether the players were already mentally on their summer holidays remains to be seen. 

What is worrying is that if the players were mentally off the pace due to boredom or lack of interest, how can they be trusted to make the step-up to the senior squad and try and improve the country's chances at international tournaments? This was their chance to show what they can do, that they can excel at their own level and make an impression as a full international. As it happens, many of them will be lucky to pull on an England shirt ever again, even at under-21 level.

So is there a silver-lining to this sorry showing? Well, after all the fanfare at the opening of St. George's Park, the centre's primary aim is to increase the number and quality of English coaches. While this will undoubtedly reap dividends in the future, it will not increase the quality of our young players in the short-term.

What would really help our national team is if the FA stepped in and tried to interfere with the Premier League's overseas-player rules. Young English players, while expensive due to their home-grown status, rarely get the chance to play in the Premier League, as their progress is usually blocked by an older, more talented foreign player. 

Until the FA force the Premier League to change their money-over-mind prerogative, expect to see more English teams at international football tournaments pull a Eurovision - nil points.

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