England R.I.P. - The Inquest

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 22/06/2002

IT had to happen. Immediately England went out of the world cup the inquests began. Where did we go wrong? Did we go wrong? Where we lucky to reach the quarter finals or were we expected to? Before the football media take the stage this is what some of the Fishy readers had to say!

Erikkson? His strength has definitely been in helping England's mental approach, but those subs today??? Still a long way to go. When will we ever "risk" playing a midfield with flair? Why do I have to suffer Butt and, to some extent, Scholes? Butt is a stopper. Nothing more. We still lost. Scholes was dreadful...no one on that pitch could match Ronaldhino..he was sprinting past the player in possession and screaming for the ball constantly. Butt? Scholes? If shorts had pockets they'd have had their hands in them, mid-day stroll. No creativity. The goal was even brought about by a massive gaff.

Gy-Joker

To think how far Sven has brought us since he took over is a testament to him and his players. He got us to this world cup and when he took over if someone had said he would take us to the World Cup Qtr Final and lose to Brazil you would have laughed.

Didge

Doubly disappointing I'd say, given that, in effect we beat ourselves. Brazil are a good side, but not special, and a pale shadow of their former selves. We gave sloppy goals away, failed to make important tackles (Scholes mostly) and gave away stupid, stupid free kicks (Scholes again).

We've gone out of the tournament with a whimper, and I saw very little urgency in the second half. We wasted our chance and we didnt do ourselves justice. No regrets?? You bet there are. Very sad.

York Mariner

Lets be honest in the second half we were given the run around by 10 men If beckham had never chickened out that tackle at the end of the first half,then scholes failed to tidy up Ronaldenio wouldn't have calved is way through the middle of our defence to gift Rivaldo with the equaliser,Quite honestly a lot of england players will not need telling they had a howler and did not do themselves justice.

Marinersrus

I think we probably went as far in this tournament as we deserved. Not a single chance or even half chance all second half. Disappointing way to go out after that build up. It was hardly a classic.

We never recovered composure after Seaman's blunder but having said that I'll never believe that Ronaldino meant to lob him like that.

GTFC55

We played well for 45 minutes, that's not enough against World class opposition. The best team won, no arguments.

Badger57

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