I don't think that's true. Although struggling to dig out absolute examples - I've felt that he isn't up to it for a couple of years and have seen comments for others along similar lines. The thing with him is he is capable of a great pass, cross, shot but for a while this hasn't been enough to make up for his lack of dynamism and box to box qualities. Until recently He countered his technical shortcomings with this and as he has aged this, quite naturally has fallen away - and a very good player as he was is no longer able to cut it - and hasn't for a while.
I've said it since before the euros. I said years before that it was ridiculous that Gerrard and Lampard were picked ahead of Scholes. Scholes was one of the best attacking midifleders in europe and what did England managers do? Stick him on the left wing and put Gerrard and Lampard in the centre. Not only did we not have a DM while those 2 were in the midifled, we pushed our best AM out to the wing. Was ridiculous and not at all a surprise that Scholes retired so early.
How many caps would Gerrard and Lampard have if Scholes had been put in the right position and a DM picked behind him??? Not the 100 that they do have.
This is England's problem and has been for 10 years. We hype up players and manager's shoehorn them into the wrong positions, like Le Tiss on the wing. Ian Wright on the wing. Scholes on the wing. We never pick the best player in his position. We pick a 'superstar 11' and then decide who gets the position they play week in week out and then the others have to play unfamiliar roles.
I hope that Roy doesn't put out a purely 'reserve side' against Costa Rica. I hope he looks at the side and plays the team he can see going forward to give them some tournament game experience. So Shaw and Lallana should be in. Lambert would be unlucky in that scenario but I don't think it should be a sentimental 'let everyone have a go' event. It should be used constructively.
and I think when he plays in midfield (rather than his usual defence) he's more of a really defensive minded midfield man, but if his distribution etc is up to task then maybe he'll be an option in years to come?