World Cup Nonsense

[Sweder]

Well, that's over for another four years.
The English Sporting Psyche is satisfied - glorious failure once again.

So, who's to blame?
Let the inquisition commence, but lets not lose sight of one or two simple truths.

England were never the sum of their regal parts.
Of all those out there today, only the keeper (during the match), the back four and Owen Hargreaves - yes, Owen Hargreaves, ladies and gentlemen - deserve our admiration for their resilience, guts and refusal to lose on the field of play.

I was upset to see Christiano Ronaldo appear to head-butt Rooney in the back of the head before kick-off - one only hopes that FIFA get to see that video tape and this time, with no sanction taken on the pitch, he will receive due punishment. Not rocket science to forecast Rooney's demise for petulance, but like a nasty pile-up in terrible weather it's sometimes nigh on impossible to avoid.

Did Rooney deserve to go?
Would he have played in the tournament had we gone through once FIFA reviewed his well-aimed, ill-advised stamp on his opponents' gonads?
Probably irrelevent as we played with a good deal more verve once down to ten men.

Unlucky in the penalty shoot-out?
Hmm, not sure - Ricardo was magnificent, Robinson ordinary at best.
Our boys all hit the target but there was a weary acceptance of the inevitable in the run-ups and strikes.

The debates will rage on but in truth we weren't good enough.
Get over it and enjoy what will surely be devine retribution in the Semi Finals.

Germany to win?
If playing with passion, as a team, counts for anything they'll lift the trophy.