England's problem lies beyond the manager's office

Football is full of simple truths and philosophies and as we contemplate yet more pain at the hands of the Germans, none could be more fitting than Sir Alex Ferguson's maxim, "Goals Change Games".

Had the referee correctly allowed Frank Lampard's chip over German 'keeper, Neuer, England would've gone in at half-time tied at two-all and Fabio Capello's team talk would've been about pushing for victory as opposed to continuing the fightback.

And of course, the game's shape would've been altogether different too: Germany would never have scored their goals on the break as they did, because England wouldn't have pushed up so much to leave themselves exposed at the back.

But all of that is to ignore the simple facts: our defending to concede the first two was awful, we were second best on the night and England were lamentable throughout the World Cup as a whole.

Fabio Capello's sent out conflicting messages as he comes to terms with why he failed to galvanise the squad so comprehensively. Firstly, he insisted he would not resign in the wake of our heaviest ever World Cup defeat.

But he's softened on that: now he says he'll put it out to the fans. If the mood is negative toward him in the media and on the terraces, I believe Fabio will walk with a few million compensation.

There was certainly a dressing room mutiny after the Algeria game. Voiced by John Terry at a spectacular news conference, he got his own back on Capello for dropping him as England captain.

While the Italian has all the experience in the world of building winning teams at the highest level, he's left wanting over tournament experience. He failed to keep England's squad motivated and focused in the sleepy dormitories of their Rustenburg lair.

As I mentioned previously, England can't win the World Cup while there's such a huge conflict of interests between the Premier League and the England team. The players are too well paid with their clubs - plus it's an all consuming relationship which means playing for England is at best a distraction and at worst a burden.

As my colleague Nigel Bidmead succinctly expressed it, "The Premier League is a great watch. The national side has been sacrificed at its altar".

So until that landscape is truly addressed, the England manager's job will continue to be a poisoned chalice and a graveyard to reputations.

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Capellocam v Slovenia: Fabio's Italian temperament on display

Proving that football really is an international language, this is a video of Fabio's 90 minutes from a Spanish website.

As we won one-nil, perhaps his passion did get communicated to his players, although watch the distance between him, his coaching staff and the players at full-time. Very telling indeed.

What a pity the Group turned out to be Far From E.A.S.Y!

Capellocam v Slovenia

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England will beat Germany thanks to der Kaiser

Franz Beckenbauer's upto his second division mind games again.

Having declared that England had regressed to old school kick and rush after drawing with the USA, the World Cup winning captain and manager croaks that we're too knackered to take them on because of the rigours of our domestic season.

It's true our boys play at full pelt each August to May, but it's the sort of commitment Fabio Capello called for against Slovenia - and got back in spades.

And let's be clear: Germany's class of 2010 hold no fear for England. They looked ordinary in scraping past Ghana by a single goal - and there was a bit of hit und huth about them too. Au contraire as the French might say (if they were still in South Africa), Germany should be more scared of us.

Capello's absolutely right that England can now kick on without fear. The disaster headlines have now been made by other nations. Italy and France are already home in shock and ignominy respectively. Who'd have believed the two finalists of four years ago would be knocked out in the group stages?

Yes, England's World Cup campaign has launched. We're ready for the Germans. In his pre-match news conference, goalscoring hero Jermain Defoe said we'd have to beat the best to win the tournament anyway. But in Germany, their bark's bigger than their bite. Defoe believes we can win in 90 minutes.

Soccermongery says we'll win in 80!

France, the new Netherlands!

What other conclusion can seasoned football watchers come to? - explusions, resignations and treachery! say au revoir mondial, France!

It used to be the preserve of Holland. Edgar Davids was sent home from Euro 96 and Johann Cruyff refused to play in 1978. The Dutch regularly descended from Total Football to Total Disintegration.

Before kick-off, South Africa's biggest contribution was the vuvuzela, but they raised their game against a disillusioned, dysfunctional French, finalists only four years ago and World and European Champions at the turn of the century.

Jonny Hart's report also includes a rallying cry from Frank Lampard as England face a do or die final group game with Slovenia.

World Cup 2010 Day 12 Evening Update

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