England Squad Report: Leaving not with a bang, but a whimper

England World Cup campaigns don’t normally end this way. There was no red card, no wrongly disallowed goal and no penalty shootout. In short, there was no melodrama. Instead, this England exited the 2014 World Cup with little more than a whimper.

Their 0-0 draw with Costa Rica was a meek conclusion to what has been a meek tournament for Roy Hodgson’s side.

England were an irrelevance at this World Cup. While the party was going on all around them, they were the guests who bring nothing and slink out when nobody notices, without so much as a farewell.

Hodgson promised to field a number of his young players against the Central American nation, and he kept good on his word, handing starts to Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere.

But their collective performance failed to suggest that better times await England at major tournaments, with only Wilshere impressing in the centre of midfield. It’s difficult to replicate the intensity of a competitive game – which this wasn’t – but even still, more was expected of England’s next generation.

Hodgson’s side received a standing ovation from the English contingent inside the Estadio Mineirao, with the England boss admitting that neither he nor his players deserved such a reaction. He’s not wrong.

But that is where the most compelling caveat of England’s World Cup campaign can be found: public perception. On their return from the 2010 World Cup Fabio Capello’s side was roundly booed on their first game back at Wembley (a friendly against Norway).

Hodgson will take charge of a Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley on October 9 (against San Marino). On the basis of the past two weeks, they will receive a hero’s reception, despite their worst World Cup effort in 56 years.

Fixtures/Results

Group D — June 14 — England 0 Italy 2

Group D — June 19 — Uruguay 2 England 1

Group D — June 24 — Costa Rica 0 England 0

IV. Team Leaders

Goals: Daniel Sturridge – 1

Assists: Wayne Rooney - 1

Quick Notes

Roy Hodgson remains confident that his England side has a bright future, after making nine changes to the side for the game against Costa Rica. 

Frank Lampard has probably played his last game for England. We will never have an answer to the age-old question: can he play with Steven Gerrard? 

Worth it for a 0-0 draw against Costa Rica?

Hodgson really isn’t getting any favors from his Italian pals this summer, huh?