English media blast team for terrible display

LONDON - England media was too concerned with their team’s dismal display against Germany to worry about Frank Lampard’s first-half “ghost goal” in World Cup football pre-quarterfinals Sunday.

BBC’s team of expert analysers led the savaging. Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen said: “I thought England were abysmal against Algeria and they were four levels below that today. Germany made England look like a very, very, very poor side.”

Former England international Chris Waddle, who played in the England Germany semi-final from 1990 said: “It’s totally embarrassing. The Premier League is 100 miles an hour, we can only play one way and it’s poor. You can’t win international trophies playing at 100 miles an hour.”

Tottenham Hotspur coach Harry Redknapp added: “They opened us up and we couldn’t get close enough to their best players. They were much, much better than us, a way better team.”

England’s tabloid press led the mauling, although with its “Franks for Nothing” headline The Sun also made reference to Lampard’s disallowed goal.

“They think it’s Four Over… it is now” was another Sun line in reference to the 4-1 scoreline and the famous television commentary of England’s fourth goal in the their only ever World Cup final victory in 1966.

The game was watched on television by 25 million viewers on what was the hottest day of the summer in England so far this year. “At least it is still sunny” said the Daily Mail, in a bid to console disappointed fans.

Web site Football365.com summed up the mood of a let-down nation with its front page headline: “Outclassed and embarrassed: Shambolic England out.”