Richard Lennox

Yet again the horror of the penalty shootout comes to help England bow out of yet another major championship.  The England team never really inspired during this tournament but yet again they got through to the final stages only to go out in a blaze of penalties.

I didn't  see the game, as I was in the airport waiting on m  flight back home so I cannot say whether they deserved to win or not.  By all accounts (having spoken to a few people back home) they didn't really deserve to lose the game they didn't deserve to lose at least.  But time and time again England's undoubtedly world class players could not stand up and be counted in a penalty shoot out.  To be fair they are probably the most pressured players in the world, the expectations are so high, which does not help but they should be strong enough to get through that.  

You can dissect the managerial decisions, the squad, the performances or the conditions but the fact is they are coming home and no amount of dissecting will change that.  However is it all bleak for England? With Sven departing and David Beckham's announcement today that he is resigning the England captaincy is it the start of a new era?  Many of the players from this World Cup will be around in at least two years time if not in 4 years time and with a new invigoration and stronger determination to succeed, that this disappointment will lead to.  I will say that England's chances in two years time will be great.  I hope so anyway.  A new crop of young English players will be available and there may just be  turn in the fortunes – if we can avoid the penalty shootout.