Most of England’s players appear to have headed for the beach over the past few weeks, but while avoiding Euro 2008 was one way of dealing with the nation’s failure to reach the finals, the tournament had plenty of educational value that may come in handy for Fabio Capello’s team during the next qualifying campaign and beyond. Learning from the successes of others can be as useful as learning from your own mistakes . . .

Diversity is crucial

Everyone talked about 4-5-1 at Euro 2004, but 4-2-3-1 has emerged as the fashionable formation this time as coaches fine-tune the balance between defence and attack. Capello’s players should be open-minded — Germany switched to 4-2-3-1 mid-tournament without the panic or confusion that one imagines would have attended such a change by England — and versatile. Fluid movement and overlapping full backs are essential in the modern game, but England have allowed themselves to become staid and static. Ashley Cole needs to rediscover the adventure of earlier years and Micah Richards’s ambition should be encouraged.

Learning from rivals

Capello will have noted how Guus Hiddink swiftly turned Russia into a flexible and imaginative team and recovered from a terrible start, how Fatih Terim bred spirit and unity in the Turkey squad, how Joachim Löw squeezed the maximum out of a Germany team of a similar standard to England but with more self-assurance, how the caution and pragmatism of Italy and Greece failed in an environment where ambitious play was rewarded and how it is crucial that midfield players score goals. And he can learn from the mistakes of Raymond Domenech, the France coach.

Balance in midfield is crucial

In midfield you need a creator and a constrictor. Italy were neutered when Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso were suspended against Spain, France were unimaginative because where previously they had Zinédine Zidane with Claude Makelele, this time it was Jérémy Toulalan. Spain had Marcos Senna as the enforcer.

Owen Hargreaves proved that he could do the role in the 2006 World Cup finals. Joe Cole should stick up posters of Andrei Arshavin on his wall after the Russian’s flair-with-purpose performance against Holland.

Stars do not always shine

There is no reason why Steven Gerrard cannot dominate and inspire for England as an attacking midfield player, as Michael Ballack has for Germany. However, a star can win games but not a tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo, David Villa, Arshavin and Ballack stamped their authority on matches, but their teams suffered when opponents kept them quiet and their team-mates were left looking for a talisman.

England ought to have learnt this in 2004 when Wayne Rooney went off injured against Portugal and his team-mates instantly deflated. Either someone else steps up, or the team steel their collective willpower.

Do not rely on set-pieces