Well that's that then. Another defeat, and another inflicted by our traditional rivals at soccerball - Germany. Woe is us. The team that everyone said "they're not as good as other german teams" dealt the team many dubbed as a "golden generation" for england a sound whooping.

   Whilst 4-1 is indeed flattering, as explained later in this page, there is no doubt that Loew's team looked far more penatrative, and Capello's drones looked abysmal defensively. The game was not settled tactically per say, Germany capitalised from England's forcing of the game, however England's first half defensive display was, as its well documented, abhorrent. As if to further confound this, the midfield were overlooked, with another display seeming to rely on a Hollywood pass (See previous articles on OTBAO). The front two for England, Defoe and Rooney, barely had a touch, and although at times, Mertesacker looked clumsy, he was assured, in complete contrast to Neuer, who looked as confident as a BP executive in a US courtroom.

   Diving right into it then - Rooney. The only reason for his 4 shocking displays could be injury. He failed to complete a pass in the first half today (n.b. I've yet to check the actual stat on that), and whilst his control had greatly improved from the group games, his pace lacked, his desire waned and frankly he just looked poor. So if injury is his excuse, why play a 50% player? Surely two fit strikers would have given the three lions a better chance? Not meaning to start a debate between who is the better support player between Crouch and Heskey, and much less, who should've been in the squad to start <COUGH> BENT! <COUGH>, but surely there must be questions raised of Rooney's inclusion. If it is not injury then his form was bad enough to have him dropped. If Capello, oft heralded as THE pragmatist in English football, thought dropping Rooney dropped his best chance of a goal, then how did he maintain this view after his group stage form? It harks back to his betrayal of his vow of picking form players for the WC (A. Johnson, D. Bent and S. Parker to name a few).

   Now, enough focus on Shrek. Now for some defensive wailing. But this is an easy one. It will be well documented the world over. But not enough focus will be on the follies of John Terry. Much like Cannavaro for Italy, he was undone by his lack of pace and agility. Look to England's player of the tournament in Cashley Cole, who's best assets are just those; pace and agility. It is the reason week in week out he is a good player. Look also to Germany's dangerman Oezil, fast as lightning, he gave England endless problems. Thanks as to time, as this is Terry's last World Cup.

   Whilst i predict 80% of back pages will be chosen from an English player crying and the shot of the ball clearly over the line (find me a german who will argue that. I wager there are none.), there is no doubt the latter decided the game. I'm not saying the game would have been won by England had the goal of stood, but there can be no doubt that Germany would not of scored the two breakaway goals that they did.

   I do not wish to close that article on a sour note. I feel at times England played well, although they were too suspect in every department to be considered contenders today. They were beaten by a faster, stronger and eventually better team. A winner makes their luck, and it showed today. England have a few positives. We can start afresh in a few positions; Goalkeeper, Centre half, Centre mid and Striker. That is, to state the obvious, the spine of a team. A bold theory; Start blooding Joe Hart and other youngsters, and players previously overlooked against friendly opposition between now and the 2012 Euro's. It could be a different story if we go with a definite ~20 ish players who know our regime (see Spain for a team that knows who's who). All is not lost, and there can be much to gain.