Libertine England was ranked 3rd in their group in terms of world rankings (10th) behind Uruguay (7th) and Italy (9th). And if they defeat Costa Rica that is probably where they will end up in the group.
I was lamenting the US's draw with Germany, Portugal and Ghana. England got almost as tough a group as the US did. They got defeated by two highly ranked, very skillful teams, who have a good deal of world class difference making players. What I saw from England was they have no player who is a difference maker, a player who can rise to the occasion and give you those moments of brilliance needed to win close games against world class opposition. Italy and Uruguay have those players. Why do Italy and Uruguay have those kind of players and England don't? I think a case could be made about it coming down to the nature of the professional leagues in England and their reliance on foreign born superstars instead of homegrown ones. All the best players in the PL seem to be born in places other than England...
I hear what you are saying but the too many foreigners in the Premier League is the fashionable excuse for the last 10 years failure to get anywhere close to a final, and sometimes failing to get to a World Cup or European championship. What is the excuse, 1966 on home soil apart, for the dog shit of the 70s and 80s international performances.
