England - Where Did It Go So Wrong?

Okay, I'm about to rip the team to shreds. If you don't like poor language, or actually believe that England are a good team, click away quickly.

We were shocking. So, so poor. I am appalled to call myself English this afternoon - they were an embarrassment. Those players don't deserve to wear the three lions on their chests. Who should go?

Well, there are plenty who should never, ever gain another England cap, based on their performances in the last 12 months. John Terry is certainly one - proven to be slow, still trying to lead, and also a very poor defender internationally. Glen Johnson is meant to be a left back, but can't defend. How does that work? Shaun Wright-Phillips shouldn't have even had one cap, let alone 34. Emile Heskey is not a world-class striker - if he was, he'd start every week for Aston Villa. So why does he get the honour of playing for England? Having Ledley King and Jamie Carragher in the squad - where's the point?! Both slow, both old, and both crocked. You leave out players like Ryan Shawcross, whose had a blinder of a season, for some bloke who needs a zimmer to cross the pitch.

Then there are those who certainly shouldn't be wearing the England shirt until they can prove themselves to be vaguely good. Aaron Lennon is a speed machine, but is certainly not a good crosser of the ball. Same for James Milner - it says a lot when he is considered the best winger we have. Robert Green was in no way the best goalkeeper we had, so why play him for the first game?! Is the World Cup not meant to be where the world's best players get to play the other best players?

Players like Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard are those who are automatic names on the team sheet, but why? They have been very, very poor this tournament, and thoroughly deserve to be dropped.

But the buck has to fall at both captain and manager. Yes, losing your leader days before the first game isn't great, but Steven Gerrard was not the right choice for captain. And he should lose his vice-captaincy, as Beckham lost his captaincy after the 2006 World Cup. And Fabio? Well well well, your true colours show through now. Why would he have signed a new deal to stay on as manager, and then say his future wasn't certain if he didn't just want the huge pay-out when we're all finished slating him?

Farewell Fabio. Farewell players. Farewell England. Our ship has well and truly sailed, and we can safely become the small team we deserve to be.