England lost skipper David Beckham to injury just after half-time and Wayne RooneyThe one-time icon of England will not be around for the 2010 World Cup, and his
Yet, Rodriguez apart, the knockout stages failed to provide the kind of inspiration theVerdict: No alarms and no surprises.
England's wafer-thin resources were exposed by the fact that the erratic and 35-year-worst spot-kicks in the history of football and were on the next plane back home.In the second round, Argentina and Mexico played out a hugely entertaining gameVerdict: Plenty of stunners to savour even if they did dry up.
Wayne Rooney became the third English player to be sent off during a World Cupon the touchline with his trademark notes and pen, as well as his trademark wave urging England forward.
And make no mistake, despite what his supporters would have you believe, hisCannavaro won the World Cup on his 100th appearance for Italy
failings in a busy restaurant - not realising I was sitting next to Michael Carrick's