England fans dismayed after German mauling
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
LONDON, June 28 (AFP): England fans were dismayed and angry Sunday after their team crashed out of the World Cup following a heavy defeat by old foes Germany, as the media lamented the side's "humiliation".
Much of the anger was directed at match officials for disallowing a clear England goal, but even the most die-hard fans conceded the side was outclassed by their arch-rivals.
The country came to a standstill as Fabio Capello's players walked onto the pitch in Bloemfontein, South Africa, with supporters packing out pubs on the hottest day of the year and leaving the streets of central London almost empty.
But the result -- a crushing 4-1 defeat for Capello's side, England's heaviest ever at a World Cup finals -- turned high expectations into bitter disappointment and poured cold water on the party atmosphere.
"Germany played well and we weren't on our game," said Phil Thomas, 21, at a pub in London's west end district.
"Typical. It's the same old story, every time we play Germany," said his friend, 22-year-old Dave Wright.
Revellers at Glastonbury Festival, southwest England, chose to watch the match on outdoor big screens instead of partying to top music acts, as temperatures soared.
But the defeat took the wind out of the sails of some 80,000 festival-goers -- half the number attending the event -- who had opted to watch the game.
"It was embarrassing," said 46-year-old Katy. "I can't believe they get paid so much yet they were outclassed by kids from Germany."
Much of the anger was directed at match officials for disallowing a clear England goal, but even the most die-hard fans conceded the side was outclassed by their arch-rivals.
The country came to a standstill as Fabio Capello's players walked onto the pitch in Bloemfontein, South Africa, with supporters packing out pubs on the hottest day of the year and leaving the streets of central London almost empty.
But the result -- a crushing 4-1 defeat for Capello's side, England's heaviest ever at a World Cup finals -- turned high expectations into bitter disappointment and poured cold water on the party atmosphere.
"Germany played well and we weren't on our game," said Phil Thomas, 21, at a pub in London's west end district.
"Typical. It's the same old story, every time we play Germany," said his friend, 22-year-old Dave Wright.
Revellers at Glastonbury Festival, southwest England, chose to watch the match on outdoor big screens instead of partying to top music acts, as temperatures soared.
But the defeat took the wind out of the sails of some 80,000 festival-goers -- half the number attending the event -- who had opted to watch the game.
"It was embarrassing," said 46-year-old Katy. "I can't believe they get paid so much yet they were outclassed by kids from Germany."