Argentina national team coach and living legend, Diego Maradona, has stepped down following a unanimous vote from the Argentine Football Association.
Initially, Diego Maradona was offered a contract keeping him as boss for the next four years. His conditions for returning included keeping all of his current staff on board, and after being unable to resolve their differences, Diego Maradona left his post as coach.
“There was a big chasm that made it impossible to find an agreement,” AFA spokesman Ernesto Cherquis said. “We will not renew the contract. For the match against Spain, scheduled for September 7, we may already have the new coach.”
A statement on the AFA website added: “The president of the Argentinean Football Association, Mr Julio Grondona, made the members of the executive committee aware of the conversation with Mr Diego Maradona, setting out the points which had come out from the meeting.
“The executive committee unanimously resolved not to renew the contract with Mr DiegoDiego Maradona as coach of the Argentina national football team.”
Diego Maradona was absolutely obliterated when his beloved Argentina squad was knocked out of tournament play in the quarterfinals in a 4-0 loss to Germany. In retrospect, it was a stellar performance considering the team struggled to qualify for the tournament
soccerjones.com
Diego Maradona, Maradona, Argentina, coach, team, football, soccer, championship, World Cup,
As Paraguay attempt to reach the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time in their history, their Argentinian coach Gerardo Martino has been speaking to FIFA about his team’s exploits in South Africa. The 47-year-old has led the South Americans since 2007 and in the eyes of many, his clear thinking and positive attitude have been two of the major factors in guiding Los Guaraníes to the brink of history.
Such is the high esteem in which he is held by his players, Martino has successfully managed to change La Albirroja’s style of play from his early days, and the squad has been quick to acknowledge the coach’s foresight in helping them become a potent force in South American football. Now more aggressive and adventurous in attack, but with the same miserly defence, the Paraguayans are dangerous opponents for any team in South Africa.
Attacking adventure and defensive discipline helped Martino’s men cut a swathe through South American qualifying and they have not stopped there. In the first stage they topped Group F, leaving reigning champions Italy in their wake, and they have now set their sights on glory in the knockout stages. But Paraguay's opponents in Tuesday’s last 16 game, Japan, have FIFA World Cup ambitions of their own.
In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Martino spoke openly of his respect for Japan and the satisfaction he gets from working with such a talented crop of Paraguayan players. The feeling of respect between coach and players is, it seems, mutual.
FIFA: This is a historic opportunity for Paraguay. How do you see the game going? Gerardo Martino: Yes, it’s a great opportunity. Personally I think we can make history in one of two ways. Either we play well, really well, even if we lose, or we just win regardless of the performance.
Japan present a very distinct challenge, and play in a markedly different way to the teams you faced in the group stage. What are you expecting from them? Every team plays in a different way. The thing is, this is the first game where we know that the winner takes all. That changes things completely because as well as dealing with the opposition, we will have to keep our nerve.
They are unselfish, they don’t play for themselves, they are dedicated, not only in games but also in training.
Gerardo Martino pays tribute to his players
And what are you expecting from your own team? I want us to be aggressive and to win back possession quickly. I want us to be positive in possession as well because sometimes when we play we have problems in that regard. We need to improve that side of our game. But putting pressure on them to win the ball back is key. We need to get at them, and fortunately that positive aggression is something we have in our team.
Speaking to the players, they all say that you give them a lot of confidence in themselves, and the belief that they can beat anybody on their day. Is confidence an important part of your approach? I am always honest with my players from the outset. I speak from the heart when I analyse their strengths and weaknesses and that means that I can speak to them easily. It’s true that there are teams with better players than us but I also think that we have tremendous team spirit something which, in my opinion, can balance out better technical ability on the part of other teams.
After a long time in Paraguayan football, you know the players very well. How would you describe the typical Paraguayan player? Someone who brings a lot to the team and works hard. They are unselfish, they don’t play for themselves, they are dedicated, not only in games but also in training. I’ve always said that the typical Paraguayan footballer gives a coach self-belief, because they play with such intensity that you can’t help but feel that you really have prepared them very well. In truth, that doesn’t have anything to do with the Paraguayan FA, but simply to do with the attitude of the players. And you see that out on the pitch. Every single one of them puts his ego to one side to fight for the team as a whole.
That work ethic can only come from unity within the squad, and that seems to be the hallmark of your team. How have you managed to achieve that in only one month, and in a different country? It’s something that we emphasise to the players. The FA gives the players the very best. We don’t want to think that any of us, from the medical staff to the admin staff, have got anything wrong. We know that we have the country’s best players here with us and so we have to treat them accordingly. When we first got together we spoke to them a lot about unity and the fact that we would be together for 60 days. We knew that a few things would crop up, and that we would have to sort everything out amongst the squad. The conversation we had with the players was very positive although we had to see them put our plans into practice. And they have done that to a degree that has gone way beyond my expectations.
Keane says England players should 'have a look at themselves'
'To criticise Capello is crazy. He's absolutely brilliant'
James Callow
guardian.co.uk,
Criticism of the England coach, Fabio Capello, has been unjustified, says Roy Keane. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
Roy Keane has launched a passionate defence of Fabio Capello and believes the blame for England's World Cup exit lies solely at the door of the players.
The Ipswich Town manager said England's players "get away with murder" for a series of poor performances.
"To keep criticising and questioning the manager is crazy. He didn't do anything wrong in the qualifying campaign and now, all of a sudden, he's not the top man any more," Keane said.
"The goals they conceded against Germany, particularly the first couple, had nothing to do with Capello's choice of system or tactics. It wasn't a case of getting overrun in midfield. It was just very bad defending."
"They should just leave him to get on with the job. He is absolutely brilliant and England are lucky to have him."
Keane, who walked out of the Republic of Ireland's 2002 World Cup camp after a spat with his manager, Mick McCarthy, believes the majority of England's players are overhyped.
"They have to take a long hard look at themselves. They get away with murder," he said. "I wasn't really surprised by the Germany defeat. I keep saying it – good players don't necessarily make good teams. People keep talking about world class players but who are they?" he added.
"There's probably only Wayne Rooney, who had a brilliant season. But look at the goalkeepers. David James was relegated with Portsmouth and Robert Green just about stayed up with West Ham. Glen Johnson did okay at Liverpool but they had a poor enough season.
"John Terry? He had his issues and I don't think he had a great season. Chelsea may have won the Premiership and FA Cup double but that was more down to some world class attacking players.
"Matthew Upson didn't have a great season at West Ham and Ashley Cole, to be fair to the boy, has just come back from injury.
"James Milner had a good season but Gareth Barry was very average for Manchester City. Emile Heskey started the World Cup up front but he only scored three Premiership goals for Aston Villa."
Read a full match report of the World Cup 2010 second-round game between Brazil and Chile at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, on Monday June 28 2010.
telegraph.co.uk
Published: 9:00PM BST 28 Jun 2010
It's a wrap: Robinho celebrates after scoring Brazil's third and final goal at Ellis Park StadiumPhoto: GETTY IMAGES
Goals by centre-back Juan and strikers Luis Fabiano and Robinho propelled Brazil to a 3-0 win over Chile on Monday and into a World Cup quarter-final with Holland.
After a tepid opening Juan headed in powerfully on 34 minutes to settle Brazilian nerves.
Four minutes later Fabiano's neat finish for his third goal of the tournament all but settled the contest before Robinho fired in nonchalantly on the hour.
Chile had pushed Brazil all the way in qualifying but offered only sporadic threats in attack at Johannesburg's Ellis Park as they succumbed to their sixth straight loss to the five-time champions.
It could have been worse for the Chileans as Brazil had a loud appeal for a penalty on 27 minutes when defender Pablo Contreras took away Lucio's legs in the penalty area, but referee Howard Webb waved play on.
Set to take centre stage in Cape Town on 29 June is a glittering Round of 16 clash between two neighbours and contenders for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ crown: Spain and Portugal. Standing second and third respectively in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, the eagerly anticipated encounter between the Iberian duo at the Green Point Stadium is the sides’ first meeting at world football’s top table.
The match Spain-Portugal, Round of 16, Cape Town, Tuesday 29 June 2010, 20.30 (local time)
Expectations are extremely high ahead of the last-16 meeting between two teams considered among the pre-tournament contenders for the coveted Trophy. And with La Roja and A Selecção das Quinasboth having had to come through a gruelling group phase, one of the fancied pair will be heading home much earlier than expected.
European champions Spain arrived at South Africa 2010 as firm favourites for the world title along with Brazil, though Vicente del Bosque’s team were given a harsh wake-up call in an opening 1-0 defeat against Switzerland. Showing their mettle, La Selección gritted their teeth and won their next two Group H games against Honduras and Chile to qualify in top spot in their section and avoid a last-16 meeting with Dunga’s charges.
Portugal, for their part, safely negotiated a fiercely competitive Group G also containing Côte d’Ivoire, Korea DPR and Brazil. Carlos Queiroz’s solid side played out a goalless opening draw with Didier Drogba and Co before cutting loose in a 7-0 success over the North Koreans. Following that goalfest, another scoreless draw in their final game against the five-time world champions was enough to secure second spot and a place in the knockout stages.
Both coaches have near-to-full-strength squads from which to choose, though former Real Madrid boss Del Bosque will be without key midfielder Xabi Alonso and defender Raul Albiol. Opposite number Queiroz, who also once held the reins at Los Merengues, welcomes back midfield schemer Deco though cannot call upon the versatile Ruben Amorim.
Players to watch
David Villa v Cristiano Ronaldo The Spanish striker’s three-goal haul so far at South Africa 2010 has taken his tally at FIFA World Cups to six in total, making Barcelona’s new signing his country’s highest ever scorer in the competition. The flying Portuguese winger, for his part, has struck just once to date in South Africa despite claiming the Budweiser Man of the Match award in each of his side’s three matches. The Real Madrid forward needed a total of 17 shots to score his solitary goal, which came in the demolition of Korea DPR, though Ronaldo can count himself unfortunate to have been denied by the woodwork on two occasions already.
The stat 33 – The Cape Town clash will be the two teams’ first meeting at a FIFA World Cup, but the pair share a lengthy footballing history featuring no fewer than 32 previous matches. Spain have the edge with 15 wins to just five victories for Portugal, though the latter are unbeaten in the duo’s matches at continental finals: drawing 1-1 at the 1984 UEFA European Championship and winning 1-0 at the 2004 edition of the same competition.
What they said "Portugal are a great team and they’re about more than just Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes it’s true that Cristiano is one of their best players, but we mustn’t forget that the Portuguese are the only team that still haven’t conceded a goal at this World Cup. That proves that they’re a solid unit and not just a collection of individuals. Their game is based around defensive solidity, pace and counter-attacking, as well as having very skilful players. I foresee a very difficult game, like they all will be for the rest of the competition. Only the best teams are left in it now," Vicente del Bosque, Spain coach.
"We’re ready to take on anybody. We’ve already played in critical games during qualifying and now we have another all-or-nothing match at a World Cup. That’s why we’re ready to give everything we’ve got on the pitch with only one aim in mind: staying in the World Cup. Portugal’s best is still to come,"Carlos Queiroz, Portugal coach.
Le débutant slovaque n'a pas refait le coup de l'Italie lundi 28 juin à Durban. Les Pays-Bas ont conforté leur série d'invincibilité en dominant la Repre grâce à Robben et Sneijder. Les Oranjes sont en quart de finale.
Bert van Marwijk avait prévenu : "Les joueurs ont compris l’importance de ce match. Il n’y aura plus de flottement comme lors des trois premiers matches". Reçu 5/5 Coach ! Ces Oranjes ne sont toujours pas spectaculaires, comme le regrette leur sorcier, mais que la batisse est solide. Et cette fois sans passage à vide. La Slovaquie joueuse et rieuse de l’Ellis Park face à l’Italie a buté contre le bloc néerlandais, où la différence individuelle de ses artistes a permis de concrétiser une domination complète mais trop stérile.
Car finalement, à la pause, les Pays-Bas ne peuvent se targuer que de deux occasions franches. On laissera les frappes non cadrées de Robin van Persie au rayon des opportunités de soldes estivales (41’, 44’). Première poussée oranje : Wesley Sneijder gâche un caviar estampillé Gunner. Servi royalement par van Persie après une feinte de frappe de brisquard, l’Intériste est seul devant Ján Mucha. Sa frappe enveloppée n’inquiète pas le portier du Legia Varsovie (11’). La seconde sera l’élue.
Le meneur de jeu lauréat de la Ligue des Champions de l'UEFA est plus heureux dans son costume taillé sur mesure : celui de passeur décisif. Descendu aux 60 mètres pour jouer les ratisseurs, Sneijder adresse un bijou de passe longue brossée à Arjen Robben, dans l’intervalle. Là, la classe du Munichois fait le reste : crochet extérieur du gauche, je repique au centre et je place une frappe à ras de terre aussi peu impressionnante que scientifiquement dosée (1:0, 18’). La "spéciale Robben" reste un tube à la mélodie efficace, les supporters du Bayern peuvent déjà se (re)frotter les mains.
Une passe de quatre historique En face, la Repre cale pour trouver le code du coffre-fort néerlandais. La Slovaquie ne rafle aucun butin, à part celui de quelques modiques corners. La seconde période redémarre d’ailleurs sur des bases identiques. En deux minutes, les Pays-Bas frôlent le K.O., d’abord par Robben (50’) dont la "spéciale" est cette fois déviée du bout des doigts par Mucha ; par Joris Mathijsen ensuite (51’), là encore Mucha est à la parade.
Instinct de survie ou non, ces deux alertes sonnent le réveil des Slovaques. Et c’est à Maarten Stekelenburg de prendre le relais de son homologue. Coup sur coup, le portier de l’Ajax Amsterdam sort le grand jeu : claquette spectaculaire sur une frappe de Miroslav Stoch puis duel remporté face à Róbert Vittek, coupable d’une frappe trop axiale (67’). Des deux côtés, l’offensif reprend ses plus beaux apparâts en seconde mi-temps. Pas illogique alors que le duel de gardiens persiste. Mucha ressort sa cape de Zorro sur un tir à ras de terre de Dirk Kuyt (73’).
Le duel suivant tourne en revanche à l’avantage du Red, qui la joue fine. L’ailier gauche batave profite d’une sortie approximative de Mucha pour le lober d’une tête astucieuse. Il contrôle, temporise et sert Sneijder dans un fauteuil au point de penalty (2:0, 84’). La messe est dite. Le penalty transformé par Vittek à la dernière seconde est vain (2:1, 90'+4).
Pour la première fois de leur histoire, les Pays-Bas remportent leurs quatre premiers matches en Coupe du Monde de la FIFA. Ils poursuivent surtout leur série d’invicibilité, désormais arrêtée sur le chiffre 23.
England manager Fabio Capello answers questions at the press conference in Rustenburg. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images
Fabio Capello has told the FA that he would like to stay on as England manager but says he will have to wait two weeks to find out if the ruling body would like him to carry on.
"I spoke this morning with [the Club England chairman] Sir David Richards," Capello said. "He told me that he needs two weeks to decide. I said I can be for next season the manager of England, but they have to decide."
Adrian Bevington, the newly appointed managing director of Club England and sat beside Capello at the press conference, interjected quickly to insist that this refusal to make an immediate decision should not be interpreted as a lack of faith in the manager.
"Sir Dave Richards met with Fabio this morning and we are all very clear that Fabio is under contract with the FA until the 2012 European Championship and nothing has changed in that respect," said Bevington. "But it makes sense to go back to London and take stock of the situation and take a common sense decision rather than a knee-jerk reaction after what is a disappointing result.
"I don't think there is anything sinister in it other than we just want to make sure that we show a common-sense approach rather than making any other snap knee-jerk reactions within 24 hours of a very disappointing result."
Asked how he felt about this, Capello responded: "I think it's an intelligent answer. I refused important opportunities to become manager of important clubs because I like being England manager."
Capello added that he thought England's players had been hampered by tiredness in South Africa, suggesting – as the former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had after Germany 2006 – that a winter break for the Premier League could have improved the situation.
"I think not [only] Wayne Rooney but all our players were really tired at this competition," he said. "All the coaches told me [the] physical situation of players was not like the players we know. Rooney played well some games, but all the players were not the players we know.
"We are really tired. Every time we have to play a competition in June," he added, before signalling his agreement when asked if he thought a winter break could help. "But its not my job to decide about the calendar."
Capello also cited the referee Jorge Larrionda's failure to award a goal when Frank Lampard's shot crossed the line against Germany at 2–1 down as the major reason for England's failure to do better. "The Lampard goal was OK," he said. "The motivation at 2‑2 would be completely different. We played well until they scored the third goal but after 3-1 Germany played better."
Looking ahead, Capello said he has already spoken with Richards about bringing new players into the squad, if he does stay on as manager. "I spoke with Sir David about younger players that we can play for the next qualification and I know what I have to do," he added.
One of the most consistent performers in Takeshi Okada’s Japan team, midfielder Yasuhito Endo played a key role in their 1-0 victory over Cameroon. After featuring prominently again in a narrow defeat against the Netherlands, Endo went on to justify his status as the reigning AFC Player of the Year in the 3-1 dismantling of Denmark, driving the midfield and scoring their second goal with a sublime free-kick.
Ahead of the Samaurai Blues' historic last-16 clash with Paraguay, the quietly spoken 30-year-old took time out to talk to FIFA about his scoring secrets, Japan’s strengths and their prospects for the remaining competition.
FIFA: You left your opponents in awe with your free-kick against Denmark. Do you have a special method or technique when taking set-pieces? Yasuhito Endo: I took the free-kick as I always do, there was nothing special. But each time I have to take a different angle, if needed, when kicking.
Your next opponents are Paraguay, a team also known for their sublime passing techniques. What are your thoughts ahead of that match? We have watched their games. They are really hard-working players and the team is quite creative. That said, we have a great deal in common so we must strive hard to defeat them.
We are mentally strong and we are now playing with a really positive attitude.
Yasuhito Endo, Japan midfielder
"Running football" and free-kicks are the things people mention when they talk of Japan's strengths, qualities which have helped you overcome Cameroon and Denmark to qualify for the second round. What is your view? I think this is correct. We have put in a great deal of effort in training so we are able to move forward very strongly when the ball is passed. Set-pieces are also an important weapon for us. We are also strong when playing as a group. When you perform on the international stage you have to show your best otherwise you have no way of winning, and we must keep on doing that if we are to continue our good run.
When Japan qualified for South Africa 2010 a year ago, coach Takeshi Okada stated the team’s goal was to reach the semi-finals. Having made the Round of 16, are you confident that you will achieve that goal? Yes, I am confident. I hope the forthcoming matches will turn out in our favour.
Japan used to be vulnerable when they played against physically stronger European teams, but having played so well against the Netherlands and Denmark, do you think you have learned how to cope with them? First of all, we are mentally strong and we are now playing with a really positive attitude. In terms of tactics, we have changed a bit too, so the team are going in the right direction. Needless to say, our goal is to keep going like this and win games.
This may be Africa's first FIFA World Cup™ but for the press in England it was the same old story as they picked over the bones of their national team's crushing 4-1 defeat by Germany in Bloemfontein. "Old failings put England back on road to nowhere," declared the headline in the Independent as the Round of 16 elimination of Fabio Capello's side led to reflections on England's serial failures, tactical shortcomings and the demise of a so-called 'golden generation'.
The Times England have been a sad case at this World Cup: unimpressive in drawing with the United States, awful against Algeria, mediocre in victory against Slovenia and, when the time came to raise their game yesterday, they were outclassed, out-thought and even outfought by Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and the rest of Joachim Low's dynamic young Germany team. Their victory yesterday serves as another unwanted milestone in the history of the England football team, a reminder of how far behind the rest of the world we have fallen while congratulating ourselves on the undisputed global appeal of the Premier League.
The Guardian Only the details and the venues change in the story of how England impersonate a serious international power. In the last ten years alone that conceit has been exposed in Charleroi, Shizuoka, Lisbon, Gelsenkirchen and now Bloemfontein. England have still not beaten a top-flight nation in World Cup combat since the Bobby Moore-Geoff Hurst generation exploited home advantage in the country's one and only appearance in the final of an international tournament. A brutal pattern reasserted itself in the Free State as German youth flourished and English maturity tipped over into obsolescence. Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller – flag-bearers for a more thrilling German style of play – pushed a whole crop of English household names into permanent shadow.
The Independent Against Germany's younger, fresher legs England too often looked sluggish, pedestrian even. Even when the age gap was irrelevant – Miroslav Klose, 32, being older than John Terry and Matthew Upson – Germany were still quicker. England are chronically short of pace for a top-level international team. Of the starting line-up, only Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe could be described as quick, while the heart of the team – the central defenders and central midfield – could either be described as slow by international standards or, in Lampard's case, showing the effects of several years of non-stop football. All four goals were a consequence of poor defending, but Germany's greater speed and mobility was a significant factor in each.
The Daily Telegraph If Gerrard had played in his Liverpool position and Rooney in his Manchester United role up top, England would have had their two potential match winners in tandem. Such good friends as Gerrard and Rooney love working together. At 30, Gerrard will never play in a World Cup again. His one shot at international glory has been taken away. If England had played 4-2-3-1, they may still have lost to the vibrant Germans but it would have been worth utilising a system that coaxed the best from Gerrard and Rooney. The flaws inherent in 4-4-2 were brutally exposed here as the Germans flooded through.
The Sun Some things never change. Another World Cup and England again depart the stage early, heads bowed, reputations skewered and playing football from the Dark Ages. And, this time, on the back of their biggest World Cup hammering ever, totally outclassed by a young German team with eight players under 26. Since 1966 we have never beaten any team of any quality at the knockout stage of a World Cup. Our only successes have been against the might of Paraguay, Belgium, Cameroon, Denmark and Ecuador. So no more excuses, please.
A brutal pattern reasserted itself here as German youth flourished and English maturity tipped over into obsolescence
Paul Hayward at Free State Stadium
The Guardian,
The beginning of the end arrives as Miroslav Klose, centre, scores Germany's opening goal. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/Reuters
Only the details and the venues change in the story of how England impersonate a serious international power. In the last 10 years alone that conceit has been exposed in Charleroi, Shizuoka, Lisbon, Gelsenkirchen and now Bloemfontein. The men of 1966 can pack their diaries with yet more heroes' dinners and brand-ambassador spin-offs because 44 years of waiting could be just the start.
England have still not beaten a top‑flight nation in World Cup combat since the Bobby Moore-Geoff Hurst generation exploited home advantage in the country's one and only appearance in the final of an international tournament. A brutal pattern reasserted itself in the Free State as German youth flourished and English maturity tipped over into obsolescence. Mesut Ozil and Thomas Müller – flag-bearers for a more thrilling German style of play – pushed a whole crop of English household names into permanent shadow.
The Frank Lampard-Steven Gerrard generation have had failure's nail banged into them and it shows. Deep in their minds a voice must cry out that success at World Cup and European Championship level is simply beyond imagining. The temptation across the English game must be to retreat to the sanctuary of the Premier League, with its Super Sunday clashes between empires of debt. These expeditions in the Three Lions livery are only a trail of tears.
Five of England's starting XI in this second-round match had played in Champions League finals. Pressure and expectation are written into their daily lives. With England, though, their talent evaporates, their sense of self collapses. They look tight and ponderous and tactically illiterate.
Germany played dazzling football in bursts and adjusted their pace and pattern of play to suit the circumstances. They worked out how to win the game and reach a quarter-final. Two counter-attacking goals in four minutes showed up England's defensive naivety and wooden pursuit of an equaliser after the goal-that-never-was: the best indictment yet of Fifa's neanderthal prejudice against goal-line technology.
In the Wimbledon fortnight a simple machine can say whether a tennis ball has crossed a white line. Here in football's biggest competition Fifa tells men their lives will be defined by what happens on the World Cup stage and then denies them the equipment that would make those definitions fair. For the outcomes of World Cup games to be shaped by this prejudice brings the sport into disrepute, if that isn't an oxymoron. But this legitimate gripe will not conceal England's ineptitude in allowing Germany to counterattack their way to a crushing victory and so extend the hurt inflicted in 1970 and 1990.
Germany have advanced further than England in every World Cup the two nations have contested since 1966. Capello's team didn't lose to a history book, however, they folded in the here and now against a side with an average age four years lower. On a shallow, Premier League-warped reading of the team-sheets they would have feared the gifted Ozil, 21, and Müller, 20, and known all about Lukas Podolski's fierce shot and Miroslav Klose's exceptional international goalscoring pedigree (50, now, which is one more than Sir Bobby Charlton's England record).
Yet English players who have faced Barcelona and Real Madrid in Champions League combat cannot have felt that Germany were an unstoppable historical force. They will have played the names in front of them, which makes their demise all the more frightening. Germany brought zest and zip and cunning to their attacking play. England advanced in lumpen 4-4-2 formation without any of Germany's geometrical cleverness.
A recurring truth is that the way football is played in England (or by English players) is not conducive to international success. In Africa's first World Cup, specifically, they won one of their four fixtures – 1-0, against Slovenia – scored three and conceded five. Insiders say the campaign hit psychological turbulence when Robert Green committed a pub keeper's error in fumbling Clint Dempsey's shot in the USA game. There was, by all accounts, a collapse of faith that the win over Slovenia only partially restored.
In the 21st century alone England have seen the bail sail over David Seaman's head in Japan (2002), successive penalty shoot-out defeats to Portugal (2004 and 2006) the non-qualification debacle of Euro 2008 and a promising qualifying campaign unravel here in South Africa. Regression is the tale of Capello's first World Cup as a manager. Quarter-finalists in 2002 and 2006, England stumbled out of Group C in second place and lost to the first big-name team they came across To think they had recovered some of their poise in Port Elizabeth with the escapology routine against Slovenia was no idle hope. For the first time since they arrived in their purpose-built compound near Sun City the players relaxed and seemed to see beyond Capello's patriarchal strictness to a more fulfilling experience. Finally they joined the World Cup. The benefits of experience were starting to become apparent and the team had assumed a more promising shape, with Gareth Barry screening the back-four, James Milner excelling on the right and Jermain Defoe seeming sharp and eager alongside Wayne Rooney, who, at 24, leaves here still without a World Cup goal.
Rooney's sole imprint on this great competition remains the stud marks he left on the groin of Portugal's Ricardo Carvalho four years ago. Given his precocity, Brazil in 2014 will be his last chance to impress the judges in an England shirt. Rooney improved against Germany: his first touch and link play were sharper, more aware. But over the four games he was a phantom of his real self. The English culture managed to deliver its best player to a tournament hollow and semi-detached.
In the calamity catalogue we file Rio Ferdinand's knee injury in the first training session, Ledley King's breakdown inside 45 minutes of the USA game, the Green goalkeeping howler and John Terry's failed insurrection. It was fashionable to say at least England were not like France. In retrospect it would have been more fun to go out like the French, with eruptions everywhere, than concede two goals on the counter-attack when the score was still 2-1. Can England not press for an equaliser more intelligently?
Over the three weeks Ashley Cole, John Terry and Glen Johnson performed creditably (though Johnson left his rear-view mirror back at base again yesterday); Lampard was mostly innocuous, Gerrard was again wasted on the left and Joe Cole under-used. Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips were passengers. Michael Dawson, Stephen Warnock, Joe Hart and Michael Carrick were all denied a kick. All will flee the Royal Bafokeng complex glad to have escaped this eternal wheel of fire.
Capello toured the shires in search of fresh talent and found none. Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor and even Theo Walcott were discarded. The manager was surely right to conclude that English football's nursery is not producing fruit. National coaching programmes and strategic planning are not the English way. Feeding the Premier League monster is the only show in town. The Football Association, where a vast power void now prevails, throw money at 44 years of frustration by importing first Swedish then Italian expertise and locking themselves into expensive long contracts.
Feel better now? Each time the mantra is that we need to be honest about the true state and standing of the England football team and we never are.
Dominic Fifield at Free State Stadium guardian.co.uk,
Wayne Rooney complains to the linesman Mauricio Espinosa after he failed to allow a first-half 'goal' by Frank Lampard. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
Fabio Capello will meet the Football Association tomorrow seeking evidence of its continued support but has ruled out resigning as England manager following his team's humiliating elimination from the World Cup.
The national side's manager of two‑and-a-half years will discuss his future with Sir Dave Richards, chairman of Club England, having made it clear he will not voluntarily quit his position with two seasons to run on his £6m-a-year contract. Instead, the onus will very much be on the FA to sack him if it wishes to instigate a change ahead of the start of the side's qualification campaign for Euro 2012.
England's worst defeat at the World Cup provoked suggestions from some players of deep-lying disquiet within the set-up, with Joe Cole stressing that "a lot of issues" needed addressing. Yet, asked whether he would now consider his position, Capello said: "Resign? No. Absolutely not. I have to speak with the chairman, but we have time to decide. We have to wait until I come back to London. But I want to speak with the chairman to decide my future. I want to see whether he has confidence in me or not."
The FA offered the Italian its public backing last night ahead of the talks, which are expected to take placebefore the team's departure from South Africa. "Our position has been consistent and it has not changed in my mind whatsoever," said Adrian Bevington, the newly appointed managing director of Club England. "Clearly, Fabio needs to speak with Sir Dave and, beyond that, I cannot say anything further.
"There is a board – Sir Dave, myself, Sir Trevor Brooking and the chief executive, Alex Horne – and we work into the main FA board as well. But nothing has changed in my mind from before the game."
While the Italian pointed to the failure of the Uruguayan linesman Mauricio Espinosa and referee Jorge Larrionda to award a legitimate Frank Lampard goal seven minutes before the interval as key to this defeat – the ball cannoned down from the crossbar and clearly beyond the goalline – his players departed hinting at disharmony behind the scenes after a largely lacklustre and deflating performance at this tournament.
"I am devastated," said the little-used Cole. "What can you do? We will go away and start again, but we have to address the problems that are there. There are a lot of issues. I don't know what to say, to be honest. We just weren't good enough, and we have to look at ourselves as a group.
"We weren't good enough from the start of the friendlies, over the six games we've played, so it is back to the drawing board. The manager's future is a question for him. He is a great manager and we have got great players but there are issues we need to address. We do feel we have let ourselves, the manager and the fans down."
The captain, Steven Gerrard, did put his support behind Capello but suggested there would have to be changes in personnel if England were to challenge at Euro 2012, with an ageing squad in need of regeneration. "We'll have to see what the future holds," said the Liverpool midfielder. "We've got an experienced team and players who are getting on, and I'm sure there'll be changes by the time the next tournament comes around
"The manager is disappointed obviously. He was only in the dressing room briefly after the game but you could see the disappointment on his face. I'm sure Fabio will stay and he'll address his own situation very soon. Personally, I'd like him to stay as I think he's a fantastic manager."
Capello admitted his players had been jaded at the finals but departed with a sense of deep injusticeafter Lampard's equaliser went ignored. "To have got back to 2-2 would have been different with the psychology or the mind of the players," he said. "Sometimes the most important thing is what you think. The mistake was incredible. That there is no technology ... We play with five referees and they cannot decide whether that is a goal or not? That would have made the game completely different.
"I saw from the bench that the ball had gone over the line, so I do not understand how the referee and the linesman did not see it. It's incredible. Look, I know we arrived here probably a little bit tired at the end of the season. Always. But we suffered today because of Germany's speed, and because a big mistake from the referee that was too important for us to go forward [in the tournament]. We made some mistakes, but the referee made bigger mistakes."
Lampard was angry at the error but added: "Maybe we showed a bit of desperation and naivety in trying to push and push. We were caught on sucker punches in counter-attacks. It is the story of the game: nobody can stand here and tell me Germany were a lot better than us. They were not 4-1 better than us. But things have conspired against us. Maybe we have conspired against ourselves at times, but it just didn't go for us."
Argentina's Carlos Tevez celebrates scoring the controversial opening goal against Mexico in their World Cup tie at Soccer City. Photograph: Lars Baron/Getty Images
Argentina joined Germany in winning handsomely with a little help from a contentious line-call, and the two World Cup heavyweights will meet in a quarter-final in Cape Town on Saturday. Fifa will be praying, after an opening goal for Argentina that looked suspiciously offside and a Mexican attempt that may have been cleared from behind the line, that no further fuel is added to the fire already started by the campaign for video replays.
When the dust had settled on an eventful encounter, the clear winners even without the aid of dodgy refereeing decisions were Argentina, who proved they do not need to rely on Lionel Messi to bamboozle opponents. Messi nearly broke his duck in stoppage time but with two goals, Carlos Tevez was just as important here. With a wealth of talent left untapped on the bench, Diego Maradona's men are going to take some stopping.The latest team-by-team news, features and more
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Messi's first run, a typical carry to the edge of the area for a shot that was blocked, seemed to concentrate Mexican minds and prompt then to remember they were likely to need goals of their own. With two attempts in quick succession they twice went close to scoring in the first 10 minutes. First Carlos Salcido rattled Sergio Romero's bar with a thunderous shot from 30 yards out, one the goalkeeper did not know too much about and had in fact missed by the time it slapped against the woodwork behind him. Then Andrés Guardado came forward and played a neat one two with Giovani dos Santos, collecting the return and sending a shot narrowly wide of Romero's upright.
Both sides became more cautious after that, with Argentina passing the ball from flank to flank and Mexico happy to let them, until the game exploded into controversy midway through the first half. Messi jinked through the middle to set up a chance for Tevez, and when the Manchester City striker's shot was blocked by Oscar Pérez's dive, the rebound came out to Messi and he sent the ball goalwards. Tevez was now standing in an offside position in front of Messi, which would not have been too bad had he not stopped to nudge the ball over the line with his head. That made him active, and the referee, who may initially have missed the last contact, was immediately besieged by Mexican protests when he awarded the goal.
A long chat with his linesman followed, after which the goal was allowed to stand, much to the evident disgust of Javier Aguirre and his players. Tevez may have got lucky because two Mexican defenders had just about overtaken him by the time he headed the ball, meaning that even though he was goalside of Pérez he still may have been onside at the point of contact after all. If that was the case it was an excellent decision involving incredibly fine judgment, though Roberto Rossetti could not have been surprised to be waylaid by an angry Mexican deputation as he made his way off at half-time.
At least, as with England earlier in the day, any sense of injustice was overtaken by subsequent developments before it had a chance to rankle. There was nothing remotely controversial about Argentian's second goal, after a hideous slip by Ricardo Osorio invited Gonzalo Higuaín to steam in and round Pérez to score. The goal was Higuaín's fourth of the tournament and takes him one above David Villa in the scoring list, though he could never have imagined scoring a World Cup goal would be so easy.
Higuaín had another chance just before the interval, only to miss the target with a header. Javier Hernández could not get on the end of a promising cross moments later, though he did make full contact with Gabriel Heinze just before the whistle went, and was lucky to get away with blatantly pushing his opponent off his feet and over the touchline.
Both the first-half controversy and Mexico's World Cup ambitions were consigned to history by the authority of Argentina's third strike, and absolute screamer of a goal from Tevez that most have had both City and United fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief. Not much looked on when Tevez took a wrong turn into two Mexican defenders, until the ball rebounded kindly from the unfortunate Osorio and Tevez promptly took a snap shot from 25 yards that fairly flew past Perez. If Higuaín will never score a simpler goal, Tevez may never hit a sweeter one.
Pablo Barrera looked quite sharp when he came on, on one run beating both Nicolás Otamendi and Maxi Rodríguez before flicking a shot into the side-netting, but after Tevez's second goal Mexico were clearly only playing for pride. They won a certain amount back when Manchester United's Javier Hernández elegantly turned Martín Demichelis to score a wonderful solo consolation goal, though going out to Argentina once more was scant consolation for resigned Mexican supporters. Hernández's sparkling finish probably caused more excitement in Manchester.
Mexico put up a better show against Argentina in the last World Cup, and at no time in this game did they look like a team that believed they had a chance of winning. Germany can always provide an obstacle to World Cup progress, but Argentina look as if they believe they can go all the way.
Germany's youthful side delivered an impressive statement of intent by overwhelming old rivals England 4-1 in Bloemfontein to take their place in the last eight of the FIFA World Cup™.
Joachim Low's side built a two-goal lead through early goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski and although Matthew Upson reduced the deficit before the break, the Germans made sure of their quarter-final place when Thomas Muller concluded two lightning breakaways with a quick-fire double midway through the second half. While Germany can look forward with confidence to a quarter-final meeting with Argentina or Mexico, England will go home to lick their wounds and reflect on yet another FIFA World Cup defeat by their old nemesis.
Fabio Capello's side might have fallen behind as early as the fifth minute when they lost their concentration for a second and very nearly paid the price. Bastian Schweinsteiger played a long ball into the path of Mesut Ozil who cut inside Ashley Cole before firing at the legs of David James from an acute angle. It was another lapse which allowed Germany to take the lead in the 20th minute, the goal coming after a spell of prolonged England possession. Manuel Neuer's long goal-kick upfield should have been dealt with by England’s central defenders, but Klose – back from suspension as the only change to either starting XI – got between John Terry and Upson, outmuscling the latter before poking the ball past James with his outstretched right boot.
While having plenty of the ball, England were creating little in the way of genuine scoring opportunities, with only a Gareth Barry shot from distance which went straight at Neuer. Indeed, Germany should have doubled their advantage on the half-hour when Sami Khedira combined well with Muller to set up Klose, who fired straight at James. Yet Die Nationalelf did not have to wait too long for their second goal when Muller floated a delightful ball into the path of the unmarked Podolski and with England's defence stretched, the Cologne man had the time to recover from a poor first touch and produce a left-footed finish that squeezed through the legs of the goalkeeper and just inside the far post.
The two captains came to the rescue for their respective sides in the frenetic spell that followed, with Philipp Lahm clearing off the line after Frank Lampard's effort had been slowed by Neuer's save. Then Steven Gerrard did well to deflect a close-range Klose effort out for a corner when the striker seemed destined to score. England did pull one back in the 37th minute when a short Lampard corner from the right was played to Gerrard who crossed into the box. Upson, atoning for his earlier error, rose highest above the Germany defence and with Neuer stranded, powered a header into the net. Meetings between these two sides often provide talking points and this one's came 60 seconds after Upson's goal when Lampard's shot from the edge of the box struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down – Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda ruling the ball had not crossed the goalline.
England started the second half strongly with Gerrard hitting a right foot shot just wide in the opening minutes and Lampard rattling the crossbar with a free-kick 30 yards from goal. The Three Lions were piling the pressure on, but were given a warning sign when Schweinsteiger drilled an effort agonisingly wide. Indeed, Germany increased their advantage in the 67th minute through a counter-attack. Lampard's free-kick hit the German wall and with England having committed men forward, they were left exposed as Schweinsteiger broke quickly before playing a delightful ball for Muller, who had started the breakaway, to fire past James.
Germany's fourth was more or less a carbon copy of their third. With England deep in their opponents' half, searching for a way back into the game, Germany won possession on the edge of their box and sprayed the ball to Ozil on the left. The midfielder outpaced Barry and played in Muller to sidefoot home from close range. England, to their credit, never gave up and only a fine one-handed save by Neuer from Gerrard stopped them from reducing their deficit – the heaviest in their FIFA World Cup history.
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