Graphic: Bill Edgar's tactical analysis

Goodbye to the wally with the brolly. And good riddance after a masterclass in the spreading of fear. England’s failure to reach the European Championship finals can be a blessing in disguise. After Steve McClaren has gone and the dust has settled, this is English football’s moment for a new beginning, to break with the caution and underachievement of the McClaren and Sven-Göran Eriksson years.

Let’s face it, with McClaren, England would not have won Euro 2008. It would have been another case of hopes dashed, potential not realised, the usual limp exit. Now the FA has time to appoint a new man with fresh ideas who can instil belief in the team, ready for the all-important World Cup campaign.

The FA’s original instincts were right: its second-choice was not the man. The way England were set up yesterday told us all we needed to know. McClaren did not play for a win, he played for a “nil”. And when it was 2-2, he was waving players to get back and defend. He seemed to be gesturing to Jermain Defoe to drop back into midfield, which says everything about the head coach’s obsession with defence. Sacrificing Paul Robinson was gutsy and surprising, but the biggest problem was the team’s mentality and that was defined by McClaren’s approach at the other end.

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BACKGROUND

• McClaren sacked as England coach

• Dismissal is no compensation for England fans

• Jitters destroy England’s composure

• Turnip or terrific? Fans give answer to McClaren

BACKGROUND

• How England rated

• If O’Neill says no, will the FA call Klinsmann?

• Terry defends man in charge

• Why England will be sorely missed in finals

BACKGROUND

• Let’s not just blame the team, blame the Americans too

• Good riddance to fear factors

• Echoes of Bogota as Croatia official is accused of shoplifting

• Seven deadly sins

BACKGROUND

• McClaren: the buck stops with me

• Analysis: Gabriele Marcotti

• 'Not even prepared to get his hair wet!' - the fans' verdict

• Barwick: McClaren had to go

BACKGROUND

• England's qualifying horrors

Multimedia

• England fans: let off steam here

• How the drama unfolded

• Is McClaren a scapegoat?

Multimedia

• What you should do next summer

Related Links

• How England rated

• Fail or succeed, McClaren must go

• Good riddance to fear factors

Instead of performing with authority and confidence, England were full of nerves and doubt. They were leg-weary and lacking an edge after the friendly against Austria. Rather than making England roar, McClaren aimed to keep Croatia quiet. If England had needed a win, would McClaren have played three in central midfield? Surely not, because it is not the system best suited to the players he had.

With his tactics, McClaren tried to be too clever. Sometimes you don’t need to think too deeply — just let players play. When you have enough quality at your disposal, set the team out in a formation the players are comfortable with, one that allows them to perform to their maximum, and let them get on with it.

England, at Wembley, against a team who had qualified, yet only one striker? What is the point of having squad players if you do not use them in emergency situations? Why have Defoe in your squad if you do not trust him enough to start the match?

Defoe may not be top-class, but we saw the alternative in the first half. It was Frank Lampard looking lost, not knowing how to play alongside Steven Gerrard. It was Wayne

Bridge in a daze. It was Shaun Wright-Phillips having no idea other than to lump the ball to Peter Crouch, with no one collecting his knockdowns. What was Crouch supposed to do, juggle the ball with his head until the midfield support arrived?

Sport is dominated by the brave, but McClaren made big decisions only when a gun was put to his head. Even when it was obvious to everyone after 20 minutes that England’s style was not working, he did not make changes until half-time, when he had to. Throwing caution to the wind when there is no other option got him to the Uefa Cup final with Middlesbrough and it got England level last night, but he was found out in the end.

Individual errors put England 2-0 down and no manager can stop those. But the key factor was that McClaren was not bold enough, and that was not good enough. After the downpour last night, it is time for a new man to produce some sunshine.