12 Musings on England Germany

- It seems not only England players freeze in tournaments but Managers too. Capello's tactics throught the tournament have been questionable to say the least. Every man and his dog knew Germany had two superb players in Muller and Ozil who play in the hole. The decision to not play an extra midfielder from Capello was a huge mistake, to then decide not to play King (a player who has played as a defensive midfielder and might... just might have closed the hole down) ahead of Upson was an even bigger one. The selection today smacked of arrogance, and this from a fan who has been a Capello supporter from day 1.

- To hide behind the ghost goal would be foolish, England were dire today. However at 2-2 having rallied back it might have been a different game, we will never know. It's in the past now and if the players and management think they can focus on that specific flashpoint as the game changer then they are seriously offending the intelligence of the average football fan, and that's saying something.

- In 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and now 2010 I have watched England drop out of a major international tournament with Mr. Dylan Viner by my side. The others were all a result of glorious failure, today was just failure.

- We can only but pray this brings the curtain down on 'The Golden Generation.' This group of players just doesn't have the psyche to win a tournament. They have risen to prominence in the era of the WAG and celebrity to the point where they don't need an England win. Yes they are hurting right now, I don't doubt that, but when that cheque comes through for thousands of pounds on monday morning it might ease the pain.

- And so what next for this team and manager? Does Capello stay on or resign? Does he persist with a group of players who freeze in tournaments? Does he change captains? Does anyone have the balls to make a change?

- Let's not kid ourselves, Ghana would have beaten us too. They were fast, played 451 and worked as a team. This England group went out in exactly the fashion deserving of them, embarrassed by a better team.

- Oh for David James to have played against the US and maybe instilled some confidence from the start. His international career ends today one must think. He always did OK for England in the absence of a world class keeper. David Seaman he was not, but he was better than anyone else we tried after the mustachioed one retired.

- Wayne Rooney was so unfit it was hard to watch. I don't begrudge Man U for rushing him back from injury, they pay his wages. But had he not had blistering club and country form interrupted by injury then who knows what type of tournament he could have had. The stats speak for themselves now, 7 games in a World Cup 0 goals. Emile Heskey has scored 1.

- This is as much as a wake up call as the loss to Croatia. England played antiquated football, the kick and rush style mocked by Beckenbauer a few weeks ago. How right he was. How many times do we have to watch our centre backs hoof the ball aimlessly forward in hope rather than with a purpose. So few players looked comfortable on the ball it was embarrassing.

- Truth be told, when SWP and Heskey plodded onto the pitch we may as well have been watching a Sven led England side crash out the tournament. It's amazing to look back now and realize that the Swede managed to get the best out of this group of players far more than an Englishman or a decorated Italian could.

- Picking famous players over those that could do a job was a downfall. When Barry was obviously struggling with the pace there was nobody on the bench Capello could stick on to shore things up. Yes Scott Parker isn't a fancy name, but he might have just sat there and made some tackles. That being said the way West Ham players have performed at this World Cup you would worry.

- Joe Hart, Glen Johnson John Terry Chris Smalling Kieran Gibbs, James Milner Jack Rodwell Jack Wilshere, Adam Johnson Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney........ See you all in Brazil (assuming we qualify)