Will World Cup Failure Put an End to England's 4-4-2?

England's failings against Germany on Sunday made me realise one important thing, the national side must abandon the 4-4-2 formation.

It might work in the Premier League, but it's old hat at international level and if England are to get anywhere near their heroics of 1966 again they must axe the rigid formation.

International football is a different game to the action in the English top flight, the emphasis is on possession and changing the tempo in an instant. England were many people's Football World Cup tips, but they were never going to win employing the tactics they did.

Germany showed how easy it is to deal with a four-man midfield and two strikers, who are starved of the ball. But it's not a new concept for England to get their heads around.

Looking back in recent history we have exited tournament after tournament after being outplayed in midfield and surrendering possession.

Germany's slick passing and incisive movement was far too good for our two central midfield players, who at times were left chasing shadows. Both Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe looked isolated against Joachim Loew's men and why Fabio Capello persisted with the same formation throughout the tournament is baffling.

Germany showed how to play between the lines, with Mesut Ozil picking up the ball in between England's defence and midfield, yet Capello couldn't replicate that with Rooney at the other end.

England's World Cup odds made them third favourites for the competition before it kicked off, but the side was embarrassingly naive on the pitch.

The 4-4-2 is a simple formation and easy to snuff out at the top level - it's too one-dimensional. The better teams in world football, Argentina, Brazil and Spain for example make sure they play in between the lines of opposition's defence and midfield and make the emphasis on good forward movement.

Whether Capello remains as manager or not, England have got to chop the 4-4-2 or they risk falling further behind the footballing powerhouses.