England's golden generation end their international careers in failure

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For the last decade, England's quest to prove themselves as a football nation worthy of genuine respect has been built around the likes of David Beckham, Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Michael Owen and David James.

Farewell? Beckham may have played his last game for England

Sadly, the task has proved beyond them.

Now Steve McClaren's replacement — whoever that transpires to be — will lay the foundations for the future without them.

With next summer destined to be one dominated by swimming pools and beaches, England's players must wait more than three years for the chance to make amends for the shambles that has been this qualifying campaign.

The South Africa World Cup in 2010 will be a ground-breaking affair. But for the aforementioned quintet it will come too late.

Beckham is unlikely to make 100 caps, Neville will have to accept that time has caught up with him, while the brief return of Campbell and James will not be extended.

Owen, of course, is a different case. He is only 27 and has gone on record recently as saying that his best years are ahead of him.

But another injury in Friday's foolish friendly in Austria has served only to illustrate how fragile the country's most gifted goalscorer has become.

It is debatable if the Newcastle centre forward will find it physically possible to be at his most effective at the age of 30.

He may prove us wrong. It would be a tremendous boost if he did.

There is no doubt that Campbell, Neville, James and Beckham would be willing and able to continue playing for their country.

But the reality is that it is time to move on.

All have made their mark. But there has been no silverware. They will look back on their international careers with regret.