Blame Capello?

[SlavikSvensk]

well, the manager ultimately does have to take responsibility. but...there's two problems with laying the blame on him.

first, was it really better before he took over? no, it was worse. mclaren took a consistent quarterfinalist team and didn't manage qualify for euro2006. capello took that and made it to the round of 16. not exactly a brilliant result, but an improvement.

second, players like rooney, terry, etc. simply weren't running to the ball. perhaps that was because of an inferior fitness level or bad psychology or something, but at the end of the day, they were the ones who failed to run to the ball. they have to share in the blame for that.

personally, i think england needs to look to the younger generation, the way germany, holland and spain have done in recent years.

[Jay Pace]

Players don't play together as a team, too individualistic and probably too worried about injuries, and the prospect of losing their deodorant and shampoo sponsorship contracts. World cup offers more risk than reward for people who earn mega-bucks in their day job.

Capello was weak and should have been able to get more out of them though.

[SlavikSvensk]

i also have to wonder if rooney is injured. i mean, the guy is pretty fast, and he wasn't getting separation on anyone.