Fabio Capello was left in no doubt just how big a task he faces in turning England into contenders again after watching his side lose 1-0 to France in a friendly international on Wednesday.
After beating Switzerland 2-1 last month in his first match as England coach, the 61-year-old Italian's honeymoon period came to a swift end at the Stade de France when England were ultimately brushed aside by France in the second half.
Capello insisted afterwards he was pleased with England's performance and their dogged persistence to battle right to the end, but there was also much about the overall display to discourage anyone with England's interests at heart.
The build-up had been overshadowed by David Beckham winning his 100th cap for his country, and the 32-year Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder had a solid performance compared to some of his team mates before leaving to a standing ovation after 63 minutes. But Capello's decision to experiment with Wayne Rooney as a lone striker for the first half failed to produce any real threat to the French goal despite Beckham's attempts to find him with his crosses.
Steven Gerrard, who had a poor game in midfield and was one of four players substituted at half-time, had three scoring chances and failed to test French keeper Gregory Coupet with any of them.
Capello switched from a 4-5-1 system, replacing Rooney up front with a 4-4-2 formation in the second half pairing Michael Owen with Peter Crouch, but they too failed to make an impression.
Capello also saw first hand the two opposing halves of David James on a night when the keeper conceded a clumsy penalty, but also made a series of good saves. James clattered into Nicolas Anelka after 32 minutes in a carbon copy of the penalty he conceded when England played France in Euro 2004, when he brought down Thierry Henry.
Franck Ribery, the game's outstanding player, then sent James the wrong way from the spot for the only goal of the game. Capello said afterwards he was more pleased by aspects of England's play in the defeat to France than he was by the victory over Switzerland.
"I saw some very good things against a top-level team," he said. "That showed me what our worth is."
He also praised Beckham's performance against a team considered to be one of the favourites to win Euro 2008.
"I was very pleased with David Beckham," said Capello. "I only substituted him because I wanted to see other players and I know Beckham as a player very well.
"I told the players I am happy we made progress compared to Switzerland, even though we won that game. I made the team play two different ways so I could see many players. My ideas are now a lot clearer."