So another tournament, another goal-less 90 minutes, and another penalty shootout for England to overcome.

Given that England's record in penalties is almost as bad as a Justin Bieber record, it shouldn't have surprised anybody that England will now be heading home before the finals a week today.

Yet, it somehow doesn't seem fair - England have been the grafters of Euro 2012 and have really tried hard to do well this tournament. The attitude and commitment shown by the players was a really refreshing change from the debacles under Steve McLaren and Fabio Capello.

Italy were always going to be tough opponents, but even they could not beat a resilient England in normal nor extra time. England gave them a good game, but it was a bridge to far for Roy's boys and credit to Italy who now face a tough semi-final against the Germans.

So just what do England need to do to win on the big stage? Well, the grafting mentality is in place and that is a good sign. Hopefully, gone are the days of England being 11 Millionaires v 11 Johnny Foreigners and now is the start of England both playing attractive football and playing for the team. There is no finer honour, for a player, than winning a cap for your country and you can see what it means to the England players to have been a part of a great football occasion.

Next, we need to train the next generation of players properly and do away with numptyism in the game - if a young player gets injured, then let's not call for the public hanging of the player who injured him. Football is a contact sport, and you will always get players of all ages and sexes getting an injury. It's no good Mummy and Daddy threatening to bring in the Police and the family Lawyer because precious diddums got his leg gashed. Bandage it up and get on with it... oh, for the days of the magic sponge!

Speaking of Mummy and Daddy, when you are watching your kids play football learn to shut the heck up if a decision goes against your son/daughter. These things happen, and players make mistakes - when I used to play I made a shedload of errors but I always got stuck in - it's no good attacking the referee because you don't agree with him, the world does not revolve around you - deal with it.

It may come as no surprise that British youngsters are among the least fit and least happy of children in Europe. Now, I wonder why that is... is it the Blairite 'Nanny State' mentality where it's always somebody else is always to blame, and responsibility is deemed too big a word for people to comprehend (although that in itself is a pretty big word!) Instead of plonking the kids in front of the idiot box to watch Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, Big Brother etc. or expect them to know which celeb is doing what and with whom, why don't you get them down the leisure centre or local park and get them fit and active? Or were you unaware that the idiot box (which you have to give the BBC £149 a year for) is not helping your child become a future Christiano Ronaldo/Lionel Messi etc.

Unless we change our mentality, as a nation, and we tell our kids that you have to graft hard and that you have responsibilities as well as rights, then we may as well forget England getting anything other than their BFH - Bus fare Home.