As far as medical conditions are concerned, the England National Team’s ‘Big Tournament Syndrome’ seems like a dead end. Every two years, be it the World Cup or the European Championship, England’s undoing as an international side is very well demonstrated. The pre-tournament excitement, the patriotic chants, and the slight hope among the supporters that maybe their time is now, is soon dissipated once anything slightly challenging pops up. And it isn’t surprising that it happens every time. Nothing changes.

For the manager’s part, his failure is magnified with this exit more than ever. It is plain and simple Roy Hodgson has never been able to get the best out of any of the Engand sides he has managed. Starting with Euro 2012, Hodgson’s England never seemed a real threat to Europe’s big guns. Always the outsiders, the dark horses who might surprise the favourites.

But the failure isn’t just symptomatic of the man in charge. It is also that of those on the field. It’s no surprise England have often been put up on a pedestal, considered a side much greater than they are on the field. Apart from Daniel Sturridge’s late heroics against Wales, no English forward has stepped up in this tournament. Vardy managed to score against Wales but the biggest disappointment was Premier League golden boot winner Harry Kane, who couldn’t score a single goal and whose biggest role in the team, weirdly, was to take corners. Rooney’s performances, again, exemplified his relationship with the big stage, a player who in that sense epitomises all that is wrong with the England team.

Hope springs eternal. Something England fans would dread hearing right now, but would love to believe. Now that the Euros are done, the players go back to their respective clubs and fans have something to believe in. Two years of more club football till the World Cup in Russia. Until then the fans can expect fewer heartbreaks. That is if England don’t crash out of qualifications.