Why England were so awful

I went to bed an angry man, angry with a bunch of overpaid lazy wankers, but then I read this brilliant piece and now I’m not so sure: it’s a super psychological unpicking of the team’s state of mind:

Cast your minds back to the qualification games for the 2000 European Championships. Glenn Hoddle had made an excellent start as England manager. A side built around Adams, Ince and Shearer had come home early from the World Cup, but on the back of the best all-round set of performances since 1970.  The young Manchester United midfield were bedding in, Michael Owen had arrived, and the future looked bright. But, a couple of lacklustre games into Euro 200o qualifying, Hoddle rowed with Alan Shearer, saying “Tell me why you are producing performances like this.”

Shearer replied: “Have you ever thought the problem might be you?”

It’s not pressure. It’s not nerves. It’s not fear. It’s a message to Capello, and it reads f*** off.

via England v Algeria: Not Fear, But F*** Off – More Than Mind Games.