If there was any doubt that England never learn from their mistakes it will have been washed away by an uninspired display which has unfortunately become the national team’s default mode.

Within the first ten minutes, a familiar narrative was stamped on the game: England powerful, direct but lacking cohesion or any strict game-plan; the opposition neat and tidy in possession but without a cutting edge.

This unsophisticated approach tends not to be a problem when England face smaller nations. Indeed, the inherent unpredictability in their style can be a strength against sides where England’s players can overwhelm in one-on-one situations. The outcome against sides with equal individual talents who are better organised is well known.

Spain, Italy, Holland, Brazil: all sides with a strong sense of how they play the game. In contrast, English football seems to be in a period of identity-crisis. The old ways of bone-shuddering physicality and pumping-heart commitment have been recognised as insufficient, but the players – and the public – aren’t quite ready to give in to the fanciness of continental styles.

And so it was tonight. The England side made sense against a team ranked 40 in the world, with direct, threatening players across the pitch. This was the kind of side that Capello put out in qualification for the World Cup and they always did the job.

But as the first half trundled on, England sleep-walked into a predictable, pedestrian style and the players became bogged down. Montenegro quickly sussed that England would attack from wide areas, or directly through Crouch, and dealt with it in numbers. England’s static lines had little response.

At the start of the second half, it was Montenegro who gave Premier League managers the jitters with a few late challenges while England maintained a direct, blunt approach.

It took until the 58th minute for the first clear chance to fall to Wayne Rooney, whose confidence-sapped finish came courtesy of tabloid hacks nationwide. Ashley Young then decided to adopt a few continental affectations with reverse passes, flicks and a histrionic dive in the penalty area.

Capello’s feelings about his bench were clear by 70 minutes, with no changes being made. When he did intervene, his belief in pragmatism was reaffirmed when turning to the bludgeoning Kevin Davies rather than the delicate brains of a Jack Wilshere or Tom Huddlestone.

Davies did cause initial problems – his presence being enough to intimidate the Montenegrin defence into giving Rooney a snap-chance which Bozovic saved well on 74. That was followed by desperate calls for a careless handball by Milan Jovanovic which were ignored by the referee.

The Balkan centre-back then had a close shave with Joe Hart’s crossbar, his dipping strike crashing against the woodwork with the City ‘keeper’s flailing dive nothing more than a token effort.

A Gareth Barry volley on the half-turn that was comfortably saved by Bozovic was as close as England got as the clock ticked down. Boos rang round Wembley as a weak Gerrard free-kick was swatted away, a fitting way for the game to end.