This may come as little surprise given the comments and decisions made by our beloved FA in recent times but the big wigs at Soho Square have decided that falling at the penultimate hurdle is what Fabio Capello should be aiming for at the next World Cup or the European Championships of 2012.
There may be many who disagree with my sentiments but surely after the heartbreak of 2006 and 2004 - not to mention the 38 years prior to Portugal 04 - leaving either tournament at the semi-final stage would create just as much torment for England fans.
Reaching the semi-final stage of any competition for England is a feet which is long overdue, looking at the players that have donned the three lions of recent years. Names such as Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Tony Adams, David Seaman, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, John Terry and Frank Lampard spring to mind as players who really should have at least featured in the final game of a major tournament. We have had our fair share of donkey's over the years (see Emile Heskey) but even with such heavy handicaps facing the side the strength of the national pool is so great that a team capable of reaching the holy grail that is the final of a major competition should surely not be beyond us.
So why does it seem that even with this strength in depth, we capitulate at every given opportunity to rise to the challenge and battle through to the very last stage, after all we are very, very good at making the quarters!
There have been many times when excuses such as the players not having the drive or commitment or previous coaches lacking the tactical knowledge required at such a high level of the game. This comment from the FA though has shed light on who is really responsible for our poor performances on the international stage, the FA themselves.
It's one thing bringing in a manager such as Sven Goran Eriksson, paying him the Earth and then adding Pluto to his pay-off after apparent poor results but it is another to sign a coach who immediately claims that England must win a major tournament under his reign and them effectively tell him, 'Nah it's fine Fab's 3rd or 4th will do nicely thanks.'
I don't think Capello will settle for anything less than a spot in the final at either of the next two tournaments we're eligible for, it doesn't seem that the man is the type to accept adequacy, he looks for perfection. His record is one which shows that and if he can repeat the outstanding record he's set at domestic level, England should be looking towards a bright future under the steady hand of an Italian. That's a controversial issue in itself but we'll leave that for another day.
Forza England!