England's World Cup adventure came to a crushing end at the hands of Germany on Monday when the Three Lions were defeated 4-1, with now immediate calls for Fabio Capello to resign as manager. It was not without its controversy, as with every other game involving the two nations as Frank Lampard had a clearly legitimate goal disallowed when at 2-1 behind.
Although clearly shellshocked over the disallowed effort, England were resoundingly beaten. The manner of the defeat possibly just goes to show the huge ongoing problem of player development in the country. To rely on players who have failed to succeed in previous international tournaments in the past six to 10 years like Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Emile Heskey, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney, has revealed the extent to which the country is producing raw, prodigious talent.
So is England's failings at the World Cup down to the players entirely? You cannot solely pin it down on the inadequacies of the players on show, as much as we the publoc want to. Rooney, Gerrard, Lennon, Cole, Johnson - players tipped to make a big impact offensively, failed to deliver. They are all talented, and when at their best, can be devastating. So it must be down to the system put in place my manger Capello.
Capello persisted with a 4-4-2 formation that was destined to flop. The first game against USA proved how one dimensional England became, and lacked defensive protection when Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey broke forward. Hardly world-class players those two were, but were made to look like it against a disfunctional defensive line that was without its captain, Rio Ferdinand.
The performance against the Americans set a presidence throughout the tournament of a lack of attacking prowess and defensive inefficiencies. Against Algeria, England's inabilities of passing a ball reared its head once again, where Lampard and fellow midfielders were unable to keep possession for a sustained period, and consequently becoming ineffectual in attack. The team barely mustered a clear chance the whole game, and could have easily conceded against the north African nation. Slovenia was a much better display than against the Algerians, with England at least showing some attacking purpose, but were susceptible to the Slovenian counter-attack. There were warning signs to take to the knockout stages. England's defence could be easily breached.
During the group games, I could not understand Capello's decision to select Carragher for the second half against USA and the whole game against Algeria. Terry and Carragher do not exactly emitt something anywhere near to a rock-solid partnership. Old, prone to a lapse of concentration, and a lack of true pace. Capello was severly hindered by the non-presence of Rio Ferdinand, but it should not detract from the fact that England were shambolic at the back throughout.
Then there was up front. Heskey partnered Rooney during the first two group games, with Capello keeping faith with the partnership that shone during qualification. The inept predatory abilities of Heskey was on show against the US, missing a one-on-one sitter when at 1-1. It was unbearable to watch. The partnership just did not work in general. Rooney sat so deep in midfield, he didn't know where his strike partner was the majority of the time. Then stepped up Jermain Defoe, whose only goal against Slovenia rescued England from an embarrassing exit from a seemingly easy group.
Against Germany, England's defensive unit, or lack of it, was cut open at will by four-pronged attack of Mesut Ozil, Lucas Podolski, Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose. Neither had to work extremely hard to get their rewards - the lack of cohesion cost England. It was as embarassing to watch as the attacking performance, with the possible exemption of the Lampard, whose goalbound effort was embarassingly wrongly ruled out by an assistant referee, no one covered themselves in glory.
There will be calls for technology, and next month's the international football committee board meeting in Cardiff will take place to discuss whether any form of technology should make an appearance in football matches.
We should not blame referees as the cause of defeat, but the FA should take a good hard look at themselves and see what they have done to the English game. That's the thing: what is it have they done?
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