Pickford plays as England are beaten in Third Place game

That, for example, is why there are no decent creative English midfield players.

The team he's chosen for today's game looks like it's picked to lose – Loftus-Cheek, the carthorse Jones, and Dier, who's even less capable of decent forward passes than the arrogant over-rated water-carrier Henderson.

To play in it means you got so very, very close to the major prize in World Football; but instead you are left on the outside, pressing your nose up against the window of the sweet shop, thinking 'what if..?'

Instead, when your head, your body, your whole being, wants a break from football, you are trotted out to play a totally meaningless game for a global audience.

Judging by the line-ups both camps are (tokeningly) taking it 'seriously', and while I will watch it, it's a game from which you can learn or read very little, I believe.

Reality is that England have lost 3 games at this tournament because they are very light in creativity and intelligence. I don't even know how if a team has ever lost 3 games before and yet were semi-finalists!!

Belgium will be kicking themselves, however, because they were definitely good enough to have won this.

Rashford is a cracking player and very young but, given a chance, I reckon Lookman could put him in the shade.

Today, again, the limitations were there for all to see. De Bruyne and Hazard are way ahead of anything England had and in Hazard you can see what Sterling doesn't have. Pickford did his job better than most in the squad and has proved he is the top English keeper.

I am interested to see the differences in playing style in action as shown in the tournament. Players can basically play the ball forwards, across the park or backwards. Some teams, (and players obviously) instinctively, look to play horizontally or backwards even when a forward ball 'is on'.

Also, I'm surprised to see how few play the ball forward into space for the attacker to run onto. I am hoping these basic points of approach to the game are the direction M&M want to follow. Lookman is definitely one of the "play it forward" mentality. I have been impressed with how McGuire is also a "play it forward" sort of guy, moreso than John Stones but without the style.

The back line seem to be forming a good partnership but tend to relax at times causing panic or a goal. Hopefully they will get better with more experience together. The main problem to me was they don't have a play-maker to take control of a game as do the Belgium, French, Croatia and the South American teams.

Overall, England did better than expected, but they now have to prove that they have improved when the Euros come up. Let's remember that the last 4 in the World Cup are from Europe.

Gareth Southgate has done well since taking charge but now he has made a rod for his back as he will be expected to do better in the future.

Tom, this is not really my recollection of things. Sure the press did their usual leap onto the bandwagon like the utter rats that they are, and there may have been the odd moron braying, but pretty much every fan of England knew the limitations of the team and were just enjoying the run.

Obviously players like Hazard and De Bruyne are a bit ahead of ours, but the Belgian side has progressed a lot over the last four years. Will they be able to win something over the next four?

Personally, I think if we hold our nerve and keep doing the right things, then we will be a lot closer to them, and perhaps even as good as them in four years time.

But I do know that the young England teams have been cleaning up tournaments of late and there are some very talented prospects coming through – including a fair few Evertonians.

A lot has been made of the lack of creativity in the England side and I see a player like Dowell who can be as good as he wants to be and I hope he takes whatever chance comes his way this season.

There are positive things to take. I don't rate Southgate as a coach; when it came to the crunch, he was tactically inept. He is, however, a top class man manager. His PR is excellent and his handling of the media unsurpassed in recent times. He got them on board, played down expectation and quite amazingly no one has questioned him at all. That has been quite a result for him.

Other plusses? Stones is magnificent and will be a truly great player. Same for Pickford. I don't quite buy into the idea that this is a stepping stone.

This was, in my view, the best chance England have had and will have of winning the world cup. The best under performed. It will not happen again. England, had they over-performed, could have been World Champions. To me, it is a bitterly disappointing outcome. This is as good as it will get for Southgate. The press will be on his back soon enough.

That said, if he wants to be genuine top drawer, the concentration piece and reliance on recovery needs to be worked on. The type of momentary switch off that cost them the goal against Croatia. At the very highest level, that will make him more Distin than Kompany. Read the game & watch the man, not the ball because against top, top strikers, you get punished.

We're missing a play maker in midfield. Maybe Wilshere might have been a good squad addition.

Lingard started some excitement when he came on but his completed pass percentage seemed pretty damn awful. No the only one, might I add.

Contrary to some comment above, I feel that Stones played a "cultured" tournament. Prone to the odd mistake but there were more of those from his defence colleagues than him.

Now we're at the final stages – time for Everton to kick-on with some signings and departures!!!

Plus ça change...

We miss his goals but he continues to be on the periphery when it really matters in the big games.

Just doesn't impose himself enough when he's up against decent defenders.

[Spookily concealed?] within the fact that TWO of those losses were the semis themselves, and then the following 3rd/ 4th playoff game, I'm pretty certain there lies your answer!!! And so, having lost just one group game, prior to the semis, then yes I'd imagine that's something which has often happened!!! That quite so hard to figure out???