19 June 2010 – Day 9

“…Another nervy 90 minutes looms……not gloomy, just realistic…” was my closing line yesterday. Even I didn’t expect that it would manifest itself in the drawn game last night in such an awful fashion.

A performance that lacked passion, intensity and belief. A side that looked bereft of confidence and ideas, blatantly uncomfortable on the ball and less technically capable than their supposed “inferior” opponents. The most worrying aspect for me was the lack of a Plan B, as the 4-4-2 set up was clearly not working, but Mr Capello just kept ploughing on with it.

As for our star Number 10 at the end of the game, well Wayne, let me just say this. Fans have paid thousands of pounds to watch this tournament. England played badly and so people are entitled to express their dissatisfaction. Wayne did you expect to come off after that to rapturous applause?

At least England go into the last game on Wednesday knowing what they have to do. We’ll be reminded that it has happened before in other World Cups and that England will pull it out of the bag. But surely it shouldn’t have had to come to this. 

When the draw was made for the World Cup Groups, The Sun ran the headline EASY (England, Algeria, Slovenia, Yanks). Perhaps this morning they should be asking EASY? (England Are Shocking. Y?)