England, in the second half against Montenegro, were about as good as the pun in the headline of this article.

I just don’t know what it is about England. Lots of friends have given up on them, seeing them as the collective group of overpaid, over-hyped nonsense that they are; but not me. I support and follow them with the loyalty of Hachi and the blindness of Ray Charles. There’s something masochistic about it. I sit down to watch an England game expecting failure (even though a part of me always retains hope) and I’m almost never disappointed.

This weekend, it wasn’t just the football team. After Friday night’s debacle, I set my alarm and awoke early on the Saturday to have a cup of tea and watch the Rugby World Cup quarter final between England and France.

England, World Cup, quarter final…I should have known better.

Speaking of knowing better, you’d think Fabio Capello would by now. Montenegro was a game in which we only needed a point, but really should have been winning. We managed a draw, yet it felt like a defeat.

There was the fact that Phil Jones, one of the most talented and promising young centre backs in the country, was thrust into the team to make his debut in an important qualifier, rather than waiting for a friendly. Not only that, but rather than play him in the centre back position to which he is not only accustomed but has been excelling at, he played him at right back. With decisions like these it’s difficult to see why Capello should get £600 a year, nevermind £6 million.

There was also the case of Wayne Rooney. A mercurial character at the best of times, our best player and big hope for Euro 2012 was perfectly fine to play, according to Capello. This was despite the fact his father had only recently been arrested. Of course, Rooney went on to be sent-off and will now miss at least one match at Euro 2012.

Anyone who thinks who England have a genuine chance at the competition next year needs to seriously consider their state of mind. We are lightyears behind Spain, and the likes of Germany and Holland continue to move away from us as well. Semi finals would be a good performance. As it’s England, it’ll no doubt end up being quarters. With this side, even when you lower your expectations, they manage to find a way to disappoint. I envy those who have none. Maybe I should just stick to watching cricket; we’re pretty good at that.

Photo courtesy of dayorama.