I DON'T know whether losing because you didn't play nearly well enough is better or worse than going out on penalties after a typically 'brave' performance.

What I do know is that England got exactly what they deserved on Friday - nothing.

Kieron Dyer will never make a left-winger if he lives to be 1,000.

Did Sven have him wearing a slipper on his right in training? If so, it didn't do him a lot of good, he looked for the inside every time and there was no final ball to speak of.

Did I miss the session on Dyer? He's got a 'good engine' and covers the ground, but for a supposedly creative player he doesn't create nearly enough in a white shirt.

Trevor Sinclair (and Joe Cole) can play on the left, Dyer can't.

But you can't just pick on Dyer.

Every time England passed their way into a good wide position the wide-men, including Goldenballs, bottled it - looked for another man, didn't take the responsibility.

As often as not the ball was finding its way back to Sol Campbell - with all due respect, probably the worst passer of the ball in the England squad, goalkeepers included.

He had little choice but to bump the ball forward followed by a 20-minute shadow-chase and a game of Brazilian keep-ball.

What about Seaman? You can't fault him, one of the all-time goalkeeping greats but why does he only ever make stupid errors when it counts? Koeman in Rotterdam, Nayim in Paris, now Ronaldinho in Shizouka.

You wouldn't have seen Peter Shilton do that, nor Chris Woods, nor any of the genuinely dodgy keepers in this tournament, the flappers who aren't fit to lace Seaman's ponytail.

Why? Does anyone have an answer? If you can fund research into why milk goes sour surely you can bring together the nation's greatest psychologists, philosophers and men of letters to solve this national dilemma?

So, on we role to 2004, Portugal and the European Championships, where at least there will be no Brazil.

Ferdinand and Campbell succeeded in shackling Ronaldo - it was just the rest of them they struggled with, perhaps the likes of Totti and Raul will be more manageable.

But lets hear none of this 'England will have a great chance next time' nonsense.

Sure, the players will be at their peak, but can we guarantee a fully fit Gerrard, the continuing emergence of Cole (A) and Cole (J) and anyone else with the surname Cole and a first name other than Andy?

Can we guarantee that Sven won't disappear into the sunset with Nancy on his arm and a big fat cheque in his pocket? Are we all totally certain that Becks won't do a Shearer and decide that International football and an age with a three at the front don't mix well?

On paper, England should have a great side but, as no one needs reminding, football is played on grass.

And I hate the game with a passion (sometimes).