France Exposes England's Chronic Inadequacies in Wembley Waltz

The most worrying thing about France's easy victory over England at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night is not the fact that England's last unbeaten record under Fabio Capello, their home record, is now gone.

Nor was it the performance of their young players. Kieran Gibbs and Andy Carroll did alright, and Jordan Henderson looked exactly like the over-promoted youngster that he is, although his time will come again.

Not even was it the fact that, for once, England had absolutely no excuses. Nobody was sent off, all the balls that crossed the line were given as goals, and they weren't exposed by a moment of magic from one world class player.

It was not even the simple fact that they were, as usual, out-thought, out-fought and completely outplayed by opponents seemingly playing to different rules.

It is the fact that England's men are playing exactly the same way they were before they got themselves into the mess in which they find themselves.

It would be easy and naive to dismiss the defeat as that of a team of untried youngsters against seasoned international veterans. Although there is some truth in this, that would be to completely miss the point. And besides, France's most important players on the night were their mesmeric midfield of Yann M'Vila, Joann Gourcuff and Samir Nasri, who do not boast 50 caps between them.

Although England may have been down to the bare bones, it was the quality of meat on them which has to worry.

Capello continues to baffle with his tactical selections. Pairing Walcott with Jagielka down the right, and then seemingly instructing Walcott to come inside at every opportunity completely nullified the goal threat of Andy Carroll. The first cross from wide that the Newcastle man had to attack came over 60 minutes into the game, and Jagielka looked completely lost every time he crossed the half way line.

In contrast, Bacary Sagna was as potent an attacking threat as any offered by the French front three.

Capello also persists with Gareth Barry who, being slow, not particularly creative and only able to pass forwards if the ball goes in the air, does not fit the die cast by Xabi Alonso, the archetypal modern holding player.

And the decline of Steven Gerrard is truly shocking. The Liverpool man spent the entire evening spraying over ambitious 50 yard passes around the place, barely ever connecting with one. Nobody can doubt his heart and engine, but those qualities do not win international football matches in this day and age.

The team's use of Carroll also harked back to the dark ages of football. You could put the best header of the ball in the world up front, but if you simply pump long balls up to him from the back, he will not threaten.

Until England can tackle these deeply ingrained habits of mindlessly tossing the ball up to a big man, of losing the ball incredibly cheaply playing the Hollywood ball and of picking players on reputation rather than merit and to fit a system, then they will be doomed to remain in decline.

The Three Lions' relative success at youth level proves that these bad habits are learned, not born.

It is absolutely vital to ensure that Carroll, Henderson and all those who come after learn only the good.