Flog - England's Autopsy.

After the Algeria game last Friday, Danny Baker said it was typical of the English to perform an ‘autopsy before we have a body’. He’s right. But now we have a body. Though it might have to be identified through its dental records, because England were destroyed and hacked to pieces so fine it would make a member of CSI: Miami hold back the vomit.
Germany’s victory was no revenge; it was too simple for that.
The irony of England’s second ‘goal’ is laid on so thick it’s chewable. How far over the line Lampard’s effort was is perhaps a testament to how much the German’s hurt has grown since Geoff Hurst, the Russian linesman and 1966 and all that. Inches back then, literally feet now.
But that would be papering over the cracks.
During the post-match analysis the dismay of Lee Dixon was so clear it almost reached out and punched you like a Leona Lewis fan. While his hands covered his face, the second German goal was repeated for Hansen and Shearer to describe and cringe over. A man with 22 England caps- 4 less than Glen Johnson- was physically hiding from the defending England showed. Dixon usually struggles to get through any analysis without referring to his Arsenal days, with Winterburn, Adams and Keown, but there was no comparison for him today. The English defence looked like the sprint team for the sloth Olympics.
Gareth Barry showed exactly why it has taken almost eight years for him to be considered a fully capable international. His lack of pace was exposed with a simple attempted foul on Ozil for the German’s third and crucial goal. It would have been classed as a professional foul if he has made contact, the fact that he didn’t exposed more about the English team; we can’t even cheat properly.
Lampard was as flat as he has been for his entire international career, and Gerrard looked as uncomfortable as expected, being a central attacking midfielder being asked to play left wing and be the team’s captain at the same time. How can Gerrard be expected to perform his leadership duties when he is not even allowed to perform those most natural to him?
Rooney was subdued and has a lot to learn at this level. Let’s just leave it at that for the Manchester United striker.
So what now? Every competition England has been in for the last decade- perhaps more- has had a positive to take out of it. The emergences of Rooney and Owen in past tournaments gave us our silver lining- so where is it now?
There isn’t one. And why? Because the risk factor wasn’t there.
Capello failed to enforce his original regime of picking players on merit. Or rather he did, but the merits of years past. Gerrard and Lampard are obvious choices for their clubs, and of England teams of the past, but it simply wasn’t good enough to out-play and out-tactic Germany.
Ozil was a star of the last U-21 championship tournament in Sweden. He didn’t single-handedly destroy England but only because those around him were available to help. Can we seriously rely on Lampard and Gerrard when their insurance policy is Gareth Barry?
Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail raised the point that the footballing youth of England play on standard 11 a-side pitches from an impossible age, resulting in long ball tactics and over-reliance on physical strength. This system means in a decade we will have two Emile Heskeys up front not just one. Spanish youngsters play 7 a-side until they are 14. It’s not even judgement anymore, its fucking science. Good thing Trevor Brooking dismissed this argument then.
This wasn’t out golden generation; it was the Premiership’s. Spain’s dominance in the transfer market may mean England’s top flight suffer in terms of revenue, but if they really cared they would pump money into the talents such as the England national team in 2014. If not, the last 16 might be celebrated like Capello did for very different reasons.

Hart, Richards, Mancienne, Rodwell, Gibbs, Walcott, Milner, Cattermole, Johnson, Rooney, Wickham.

2014?