England were absolutely shit. That much is pretty unarguable.

Despite some fans delusions of grandeur, they have been shit since about 1990, and probably shit since about 1970.

I'm not sure if you can blame the coach, as there have been a succession of coaches who have not made much difference.

I guess it's possible to blame the players, but unless selection is so flawed .... then those were the best players from a nation of 55 million people, of whom football is the national sport, and who have the richest and (arguably) most competitive league in the world. The top squad of players should certainly be better man for man than Iceland, Wales etc etc. I suspect that they are.

It looked to me to be a matter of self belief and confidence. I thought they poor sods were so transfixed by the fear of failure that they forgot how to play to win. That's a matter of team culture, along with the vultures in the press being quite so carnivorous.

Look at the miracles that someone like Eddie Jones has done with the England rugby team, who were in much the same position as the football team were in quite recently. Having a team manager/leader who focuses on the team dynamic and the mindset of the team, while supported by technical specialists in attack/defence etc works in rugby .... which is a technically and physically more difficult game. Admittedly, there is less worldwide competition, but still?

Perhaps a radical rethink in how the team is led and managed is in order? I don't think there is much to lose!

Bring in a defence coach, an attack coach etc .... but look to have an inspirational and proven 'leader' type who creates a winning culture. They don't need to be a football person, though traditionalists will scream about that to high heaven.

I can't stand him, but what about Clive Woodward?

The issue with English football (or indeed, anyone's football) is that it believes only football people can run football teams..