England must use failure as a spur

IT was the gasp that gave it away. When Nico Kranjcar’s streaky long-range shot bounced off Scott Carson’s chest and skidded into the bottom corner o f his net, it sounded as if Wembley had been winded.

It was also the first indication that 21 November, 2007 was going to be the night when the air was let out of English football.

And who knows if we will ever get our ball back?