England vs. France: What Happens Next for Fabio Capello and the Three Lions?

It could have been the start of England's next generation last night—a changing of the guard, a passing of the baton between the failed golden era and the new future of England.

With so many of the flops from the last decade missing, the new long-term England side had the chance to show Fabio Capello the way forward to Euro 2012.

The only problem for England was that France had the same idea and their youngsters executed the plan and executed England, 2-1 at Wembley Stadium in a friendly.

It was a game which both countries needed to win after this summer's miserable World Cup—the difference being that France is a totally new side from top to bottom.

England are still stuck with Fabio Capello, and after last night, he is still going to be stuck with being forced to select the same names who have failed us so many times in the past.

No John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Jermaine Defoe or Glenn Johnson.

With so many names missing, Capello was forced to shuffle his cards and dealt out what should and could have been a vibrant exciting new England; instead, the Three Lions limped out of Wembley.

It was new and I was excited to see Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson, who have been valued at £50 million between them.

Carroll worked hard, which is the least you expect from him, but to me Henderson hid and went largely unnoticed.

It's hard to imagine Wayne Rooney, Defoe or Lampard worrying about their place when they return, which worries me, as England's "Golden Era" have no pressure walking into the side. 

It also worried me the second-best left back England have available for selection has played 20 minutes of first team football since the end of September—every player must be fit, playing regularly and in form Capello?

And Gibbs is not alone in being wrongly selected—what about Chris Smalling? A good defender yes, but he has made two Premier League appearances this season for Manchester United.

Micah Richards—five league starts for Manchester City.

Peter Crouch has scored again and kept up his fantastic record for England, but he has netted once for Spurs in 13 league games this season.

Not that you can blame these players for being selected: Would you turn down an England call up? Of course not.

Hardly in form though, are they? Capello's reluctance to select players in the past has been down their lack of first team football, yet a minor injury crisis and he's forced to eat his words.

I wanted England to win last night for the reasons I stated earlier. This was a rare chance for the "new England" to be born, and we failed.

France were better, silkier and sharper. Their new look side, which missed nine World Cup flops, took full advantage of the new beginning.

Only three Frenchmen played yesterday who also started their final World cup match against South Africa: Hugo Lloris, Bakary Sagna and Alou Diarra.

England had only two from the miserable meeting with Germany: Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry.

Don't be surprised to see the big names return to the side as if they had never been away when they are fit again, because the English next generation simply is not ready yet.

So what's next for England? France was our final game of this miserable 2010 international football calendar.  

Long may it be forgotten into England's history of disappointing years—now we need to look forward to Euro 2012—but under the current regime my hopes of success are disappearing.