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BBC

Former England striker Alan Shearer has questioned the progress England are making under Fabio Capello.

England's midweek 2-1 defeat by France at Wembley prompted a huge outcry about the direction of the national team.

"Fabio's been here for two-and-a-half-years and I'm not sure we've actually gone forward in that time," Shearer told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek.

"If every England player was fit, I'm not sure that he'd know what system he wanted or what team he wanted to play."

The BBC Match of the Day pundit also suggested English players are technically inferior compared to their foreign counterparts.

"I don't think anyone can argue that if you put a bunch of players against ours, yes we might have the fight and we might have the will, but I think technically it's obvious for everyone to see that we do lack and stand behind [other teams]," added Shearer.

"When you look at a Wayne Rooney or a Steven Gerrard, or look at a Frank Lampard or a Rio Ferdinand, then yes they would certainly get into other teams but, beneath that, that's where we have a problem."

The day after England's defeat the FA confirmed that building work will begin on the much-delayed National Football Centre in Burton, which will be used as a coach education centre from 2012.

"I think the problem lies with the kids coming through and how they are taught. What are they taught?" said Shearer. "That's where you need to start from. And it will take a long, long time.

"Unfortunately in this country we haven't got patience, because we always put so much pressure on our players that we go into every tournament not only wanting, but expecting to win."