Here's the ESPN link to the rant about the media.
Englands failure hardly a surprise
And here's the unedited version that also mentions the sainted David Beckham who seems - for reasons I can't explain (perhaps it's a Government plot?) - to be armour-plated.
Not with a bang, not with a whimper; it was worse than that. Germany and France hadn’t even played their second game as the English FA were checking flight times and booking tickets home. So the manner of the departure was hard to take perhaps, but was the eventual outcome?
Not a single England supporter I met, nor any comment I saw on the web suggested England would progress very far in this tournament; most thought the squad would do well to emerge from a tough group. None of the professional predictions on radio, TV or web remotely indicated Steven Gerrard would be lifting the trophy either – so why is anyone surprised at how things have turned out? Considering expectations, it’s rather odd to see the outpouring of frustration and anger from the English media.
Perhaps it’s one of those things that can be said more easily beforehand than experienced after, but getting out of Group D always seemed a tall order for the Three Lions . The draw was not kind to an inexperienced side - how often do you get a four nation team containing three previous World Cup winners? – but the fact is though, even before the plane touched down in Brazil, it was known that England were suspect in defence, lacked tournament knowledge and - more importantly - couldn’t rely on any decent world-class players. Barring the addition of the usual suspects – think of him of what you will, but John Terry was sorely missed here and even Rio Ferdinand could probably have played had he wanted – it is difficult to see what Roy Hodgson could have done. It’s true that in the actual heat of the battle the general display and results have been extremely disappointing. But surprised? I think not.
What was particularly galling was the show of irritation and disappointment from those players who had failed before at previous World Cup’s but were quick to apportion blame on the current squad. Trending last night was an exasperated rant from Chris Waddle made on the radio, the former England winger bemoaning the state of English football with a ‘we never learn’ comment that seemed the type of thing plucked from the heart of every England fan. The condemnation though -- described as ‘brilliant’ by many post-match – was actually a sad indictment of the English mentality.
If nobody expected anything of this current England side, that can’t be said of the Lineker and Gasgoine inspired 1990 squad. Desperately unlucky that side may have been, but the failure to put the ball into the net from 12 yards was the reason that team never progressed to a deserved final place. And who blazed another 12 yards over the bar in the penalty shoot-out in that game? Well none other than Mr Waddle himself. Stones and glasshouses seems the appropriate response here.
Similarly, Rio Ferdinand is a fine defender by anybody’s standards but the player was also part of the ‘Golden Generation’ who never shone, while Alan Shearer and then manager Glenn Hoddle never got past the last 16 in 1998. Meanwhile, in-between the match coverage of the Italy and Uruguay games, UK TV viewers would have seen an advertisement featuring that great cultural icon David Beckham. The man may well be handsome and he certainly wears a suit well, also - as revealed in a recent UK travel documentary - the former England captain is known by some indigenous tribes in the central Amazonian rainforest too; but this most famous of players appeared at three World Cup’s and barely – albeit with injury – never once shone as expected. What do we want from our heroes? Trophies held aloft or a fashion catalogue?
The national team have been failing for decades and attempts to turn on current players, manager or tactics is utterly pointless. Those doing the shouting haven't been any more successful than those soon coming home. English football has long been in a mess; the grass roots of the game are where the problems lie and even if this were to be addressed tomorrow, it would still be another two or three World Cups before England reaped the benefits.
Rather than turning on yet another failing crop, those pundits might be better biting the hand that used to feed them. Only then might English football start to extricate itself from the mire it has wallowed in for so long.
Today's World Cup Menu
Bratwurst, Quilmes Argentinian Cerveza
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