Ageing Lampard is no longer England’s spearhead

"ENGLAND WENT backwards on Tuesday night as they took a step towards the finals of Euro 2012," says Richard Williams of the Guardian. "And the return of Frank Lampard seemed almost too obvious a symbol of their tactical regression."

The Chelsea midfielder, who was dropped for the match against Bulgaria on Friday, was brought back into the side at Wembley, but his inclusion was part of a "significant tactical adjustment" that "forfeited the virtues of security and flexibility England had displayed against Bulgaria".

When he was subbed in the second half the fans appeared to realise this was "quite possibly one of last times he will wear the England jersey at Wembley."

Not necessarily, says Jason Burt in the Telegraph. But the 33-year-old's "future in this England set-up is not playing in such an advanced role but vying with Parker, Bale, Milner and, to an extent, Jack Wilshere for a deeper role."

In his usual attacking position he failed to make an impact, explains Burt. "Not that he played badly. He just did not do enough... this was a less fluid, less pacy England and one without the drive of last Friday night in Sofia."

And no longer will England be able to build a team around him, announces Oliver Holt in the Mirror. "Lampard is entering a new phase in his England career, the type that David Beckham embraced when Capello first took over as England boss... He is heading towards a land of cameos. He will still be involved, still be an important presence but his role, however subtly, will be diminished."

It's not just his age, says Tony Cascarino in the Times, tactics are edging him out too. "The box-to-box midfield player is going out of fashion," he says.

What's more Lampard has always played best with big centre forwards like Didier Drogba rather than those who drop deep, like Wayne Rooney. "His best hope is that Andy Carroll plays his way into the first team... But it is hard to imagine Fabio Capello wanting to use the pair as anything but his Plan B at Euro 2012." ·