World Cup 2014: England knocked out of World Cup:
England
were eliminated at the group stage of the Fifa World Cup for the first time
since 1958 as Italy lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in Recife.
It is the first
time the national side have been knocked out after just two matches, with Roy
Hodgson's side beaten by Group D rivals Italy and Uruguay.
"Part of me
thinks you shouldn't look back, but if you look at the players England had in
2006 - the so-called golden generation - they are so much better than today's
team.
"The likes
of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard,
Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney. That is a proper team."
They needed Italy to win both of their remaining games
to stand a chance of reaching the last 16.
But Costa Rica's
defeat of the Azzurri ended England's involvement.
The England team
watched Friday's match from their hotel base in Rio.
Former England
defender Rio Ferdinand believes
a lack of experience cost Hodgson's side, but thinks the tournament will be
important for the development of their young players.
He said:
"Maybe England were a bit naive in situations. In the game against
Uruguay, for instance, when they got back to 1-1 they had a chance to get a
point and everything would have been down to the final game.
"But the
players can take experience from the tournament. It is valuable, not just
playing minutes but being around the hotel, how you prepare yourself, what it
means to go to a World Cup and feeling that pressure."
Hodgson had
picked a squad with an emphasis on youth, and was hopeful they would be able to
progress out of a tough group.
pundits react to England's World Cup exit
Costa Rica were
supposed to be the weakest team in a pool containing three former World Cup
winners, but the Central American side were the first to secure their place in
the last 16.
Despite
England's campaign starting with a 2-1 defeat by Italy, a promising performance
gave them confidence for Thursday's game against Uruguay, who lost their
opening match to Costa Rica.
However, Luis
Suarez's two goals gave Uruguay a 2-1 victory which left Hodgson's men relying
on other results.
In the aftermath
of the defeat, Hodgson insisted he would not resign, and Football Association
chairman Greg Dyke said his job is not under threat.
"We are
supportive of Roy - he came to do a four-year cycle. I already see people
asking the question, 'Will he stay?' The answer is yes," said Dyke.
"He came to
do a four-year cycle leading up to Euro 2016."
Former England
winger Chris Waddle cited
a lack of quality coaching in the country as a reason for the national side's
failure.
Waddle, part of
the England side beaten on penalties by West Germany in the semi-finals of the
1990 World Cup, told BBC Radio 5 live: "The Premier League is different to
any league the world and that is our big problem.
"It's
frustrating, because we have everything we need - money, facilities - but it
comes down to coaching, and we have to get something right about producing
players.
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