England fail at another tournament as Under 21s crash out of Euro 2015... but why were Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere not called upon?

As the Italian goals went in to confirm another early England exit from the European Under 21 Championship, a familiar feeling began to gnaw.

Just exactly why were the very best players available at this age group not competing?

We have heard the arguments about team unity and understand the exacting stances of clubs on their assets. 

But in each individual case of an absentee name of Premier League pedigree there is a compelling argument for inclusion.

Raheem Sterling, Jack Wilshere, Ross Barkley, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Phil Jones have to be considered better options than Nathan Redmond, Nathaniel Chalobah, Jake Forster-Caskey, Jesse Lingard and Ben Gibson.

No disrespect to that quintet who donned the national jersey against Italy – Redmond and Lingard performed towards their potential – but the calibre of those players elsewhere is a cut above.

Only four of the starting line-up for the final game of Gareth Southgate’s campaign are established at Premier League level: Carl Jenkinson, John Stones, Danny Ings and Harry Kane. 

For the Italians you could make a case for all bar Marcello Trotta. The 3-1 victors could register players with 264 Serie A games combined this season. For the losers the figure is 133 matches in England’s top flight.

Southgate took the admirable position to maintain faith with the group who had qualified for this tournament, beating Croatia over two legs in the play-off.

But against opposition a level above some looked short of standard.

Sterling, on the other hand, would have stood out. He let it be known back in October he would be ready to sacrifice his holiday to play in the Czech Republic this summer, provided an agreement could be made between Liverpool and the FA.

Jack Butland labelled his England Under 21s side as 'not good enough' after their Euro 2015 exit.

Instead the 20-year-old has been pictured apparently inhaling hippy crack on a party boat in Ibiza. The merits of taking nitrous oxide can be debated elsewhere, but presciently in this case could he not have moored for an experience of international tournament football?

He is an established member of Roy Hodgson’s team, but by his own admission wishes to leave Liverpool to win trophies. Is a youth-level title with England not something to cherish?

He could also have placed himself in the shop window with a standout few games. Elite clubs are interested but only Manchester City are bidding. Would another manager have pressured for his signature with a tournament-winning display? 

Carl Jenkinson, who spent last season on loan at West Ham from Arsenal, is challenged by Marco Benassi

Wilshere is another who may have benefited from reminding the continent of his talent. At 23, he has been a senior international for five years. But only against Slovenia earlier this month did he score his first goals.

Neither he nor Oxlade-Chamberlain are assured starters at Arsenal but would have offered dynamism to an England Under 21 side too pedestrian to progress. 

Barkley, 21, did not enjoy a season to rubber-stamp his breakthrough campaign. He is an exciting player of great potential but instead of bursting through midfields in the Czech Republic he is on holiday having played 24 minutes for Hodgson’s team in the friendly against Ireland. Was that the correct call?

The issue should be seen through the prism of previous Under 21 winners. Two years ago Spain could call on David de Gea, Manchester United’s No 1. He also won the tournament in 2011 having established himself at Atletico Madrid.

Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain is one of the best young talents in the Premier League but did not feature.