Following the debacle at Wembley last night; the nation awakes this morning with the feeling, "Where did it all go wrong?". England PodJockey Mike is convinced the problem is deep rooted and one visit to a kids Saturday morning game best highlights his point.

Last night was awful. There is no avoiding it and no denying it; the team and the tactics were just not up to the challenge. I find it hard to believe that there are no English players that can control a football and then pass it to one of their own players which seemed an impossible task against the Croatians. If nothing else, the situation that England finds itself in must provoke a serious re think in how the mentality of our footballers is cultivated.

The major element missing form the game against Croatia was any sense of composure or calmness on the ball. We all hear various pundits and players talking about passion and our natural pressing game, and to be fair that is what makes the Premier League so entertaining, but this mentality leads to performances of panic and waste as seen last night.

Not one English player put their foot on the ball last night played a simple incisive 8 - 10 yard pass through the midfield. It was as though they were all so desperate to prove how "passionate" they were they all forgot they needed the ball to have any chance of scoring. Eleven headless chickens was the overall impression. 

Whilst the debate around tactics, formations and selection will run and run there must be a fundamental change in the attitude towards children's and youth football for there to be any forward progress in our national game. This isn't just the coaches and mangers I'm talking about here either, it has to stretch to us the viewing public and the parents of would be footballers. 

I recently went to watch my 9 year old niece play for her Saturday morning team. She is pretty good and has been approached by a local Championship club and asked to train with them. She's quick, keeps the ball well, takes on players with the ball at her feet but is reasonably small for her age.

Whilst watching the game it was clear the coach of the opposition team (who were top of the league) was getting ever more frustrated with the success my niece was having. Parents of the opposition players started shouting classic lines like "Get in to her", "Take her out" and the old favourite "Put her under!!!" whatever that means.

Half time came and the opposition coach was going ballistic at his assembled team of 9 and 10 year old girls; more passion was apparently what was required. This was followed in the second half with the biggest girl on the opposition team being allocated as a one to one marker of my niece. From then on her shirt was pulled; she was shoved, kicked and intimidated out of the game. The parents lapped it up, every late tackle got a cheer and every fall to the floor was met with a "well in!".

It was thoroughly depressing, but it can't be an isolated incident. The English mentality is winning at all costs and I'm sure this show of "passion" is replicated on thousands of pitches all over the country. 

Obviously McClaren will rightly take the flak for failings of the England qualifying campaign. But whichever manager comes in next will be faced with a generation of players that have never been allowed to develop their skill on the ball; currently in youth football if you're big enough you're good enough. 

Fans will rightly be outraged by the failure of England to qualify for Euro 08 and whilst there will be calls for changes at the top of the game, the nation itself has to start taking some responsibility as to what kind of players they are encouraging their children to become. The single biggest influence on children will be their parents. If the mentality of win at all costs continues, the nation will continue to have a national team they deserve.

Tune In and listen to the latest England FanCast to get Mike, Gaz and Warren's view on the fall out from the Croatia game.