ANOTHER year; another failure in a penalty shoot-out. On a night of high drama in Kiev, England’s footballers were found wanting once again.

Having been second best for large periods of their Euro 2012 quarterfinal with Italy, they couldn’t really complain about their exit in the cruellest possible fashion.

And after all, it’s not as though we haven’t got used to the idea of England failing on spot-kicks.

For once though, there should not be the recriminations that have accompanied previous campaigns.

England travelled to Poland and Ukraine with low expectations, and did their best to overachieve.

There were none of the dramas or controversies that have soured previous tournaments, none of the crises that have affected other countries at Euro 2012.

Instead, an honest England team behaved impeccably, tried their hearts out and ultimately came up short. There should not be any disgrace in that.

Roy Hodgson has proved himself a capable manager, and after being thrust into his new role with limited time to prepare, it is to be hoped he is not given too rough a ride in the wake of last night’s events.

There are a handful of youngsters who will have gained valuable experience from this month’s tournament, although it was telling that the two stand-out players in England’s four matches were the veterans John Terry and Steven Gerrard.

Nevertheless, this is an England team in transition, and the hope must be that it improves in the two years between now and the next World Cup finals in Brazil.