The thousands of fans who travelled to South Africa can gain little comfort from hearing from Fabio, although his sincerity in acknowledging what it cost us was plain to see. No, in reality I want to see the players hold their hands up, apologise profusely, and then promise never to take us or playing for England so lightly ever again. One more failure of this sort and magnitude and this devotion for all things English will vanish, forever. Mark my words.
And whilst I’m on the subject, since when has it been OK for players to decide when they want to play for England? How do you retire from International football? I’ll tell you, when the Manager decides you are no longer needed, not when you think you’ve had enough. Playing for your country is a privilege, not one to be taken lightly and not one to be cast aside when you think it may interfere with your club football. England international players should be banned from English football if they adopt this attitude, we don’t want it or need it. I hope you are listening Carragher, Scholes, Robinson and Brown!
