London, June 19 (DPA) England were slammed by the home press Saturday after another poor World Cup football display in 0-0 draw with Algeria the previous night.
And Wayne Rooney was not only questioned about his form, the papers were even more furious that the Manchester United star complained about the jeers from the England fans in the Cape Town stadium after the final whistle.
‘What a load of Roobish,’ said the Daily Mail, dismissing Fabio Capello’s team as ‘Cape Clowns.’
The Times said about the forward: ‘Certainly the pressure seemed to get to Wayne Rooney. Rooney’s struggles warrant serious investigation.’
Coming off a 1-1 draw with the US, The Sun observed that ‘the Three Lions’ faltering start to the tournament went from bad to worse as they failed to score against the North African soccer minnows.
‘Drab, dreary, depressing, disjointed, at times desperate and, overall, dull as ditchwater. Thanks England. No wonder you were booed off the pitch by your own fans last night,’ said The Sun.
The Guardian said: ‘They managed a comically unwatchable draw against a side who have been dismissed as the worst in the World Cup.
‘Fabio Capello is fast cementing his reputation as the Betamax Eriksson (at least the latter assisted England to quarter-finals) and at the current rate of decline he will go into England’s final group match one brolly short of a Steve McClaren,’ it said in a poignant reference to the previous two England managers.
England have all to play for in the final group C match match against leaders Slovenia Wednesday which they will probably need to win.
A shake-up at the title contenders is badly needed and Capello is told to push Steven Gerrard further up behind Rooney for more danger which was badly missing Friday night.
It was also duly observed that England wasted a glorious opportunity on a day when rivals Germany lost to Serbia and the US drew with Slovenia. The Daily Telegraph had also not forgotten Franz Beckenbauer’s verbal beating of England which he dismissed as having returned to a ‘kick and rush’ game.
‘Alarmingly lacking in belief and energy, Fabio Capello’s side continue to splutter whether at altitude or now at sea level. Heaven knows what Franz Beckenbauer will make of this. England fans did: they howled in derision,’ said the Telegraph.
