91Èȱ¬

Fans despondent after England World Cup defeat

  • Published

Fans have expressed their disappointment after England were knocked out of the World Cup with a 4-1 defeat by Germany.

They knew it was never going to be an easy match, but for many England supporters, it should not have been such a humiliating defeat.

As the final whistle blew, fans who had turned out to cheer on their team in the bars of Broad Street, Birmingham, held their heads in disappointment.

Many spoke of the "disgraceful" performance of some of the England players, while others shifted the blame on to the team's manager Fabio Capello.

Disappointed faces

Some fans were still reeling at Frank Lampard's disallowed goal, claiming had it been allowed, the outcome may have been different.

"That should have been a goal," said Teresa Masterson, 40. "I think that would have changed the game.

"When it went to 3-1 they lost the momentum."

Image caption,

Fans watched the game on multiple screens at Walkabout in Birmingham

Haydn Etheridge, 23, from Tividale, West Midlands, said England had been "cheated".

"If it had been 2-2 that may have changed the game - it could have been a different game.

"England were disgraceful."

Fans had been jubilant after Matthew Upson scored the first, and only, England goal 37 minutes into the match.

Huge cheers could be heard echoing all the way along Broad Street, where the game was being shown in a number of pubs and sports bars.

There were looks of amazement when, about a minute later, the controversial second goal was scored.

Fans ran out into the street shouting with disbelief.

Their joy quickly turned to disappointment when it was ruled that the ball had not crossed the line.

'Overpaid players'

For many fans, England's overall performance was just not up to scratch.

Rakesh Kumar, 34, from Edgbaston, Birmingham, said: "Even if they lost, it does not matter - they should have played with pride in the last half.

"Personally I think they are overpaid. They did not play with passion."

Sue Pickford, 46, who watched the match with her family, described England's World Cup performance as "awful".

"We have all been really building up to this and thinking it could be wonderful but it has been dreadful," she said.

But Ms Masterson, from Tyseley, Birmingham, was more sympathetic towards the players.

Image caption,

Thousands of people watched the match in Millennium Square in Leeds

"I thought England played well against a strong German side," she said. "But they were not good in defence.

"They let easy goals in. I am not disappointed in the way they played but I am disappointed for England as a nation."

There were many disappointed faces at Glastonbury, where fans watched the match on big screens.

Terry Jenkins, 55, said: "I am embarrassed. If it wasn't so painful I'd laugh.

"I hope the players think about the people who have travelled to South Africa and spent money they probably don't have."

Up to 8,000 watched the game at Millennium Square in Leeds, and 13,500 people flocked to Manchester's Castlefield Arena.

Thomas Jones, a teacher from Preston, Lancashire, left after 80 minutes.

The 28-year-old said: "They think they are world-class players but their performances don't justify their massive salaries.

"I am embarrassed to be English today."