In the aftermath of England's incredible Euro 2016 loss to Iceland, the knives were being sharpened by the wolf-like English public. Even as manager Roy Hodgson announced his resignation immediately after the match and thanked the press and the fans for their support, there was the sense that no apology from Hodgson would spare him from a public grilling.
And the knives have been well and truly out today, with some memorable summations of England's display; there are also a few red faces among those who, like the rest of us, really didn't see such a result coming down the line-but, unlike us, have to re-live their erroneous judgment in public.
Joey Barton
Joey Barton, for one, didn't waste any time sticking the boot into his fellow countrymen in his column for L'Equipe this morning. Much like the points the excellent Didi Hamann was making on RTE after the game, Barton thinks there is an intrinsic connection between the vast amounts of money earned by the English players and the lethargy that engulfed their performances throughout Euro 2016. By way of example, Barton pointed the finger at the Three Lions' well-lotioned netminder Joe Hart, who he felt was more preoccupied with keeping an unspoiled barnet that an unspoiled clean sheet:
England is also paying for a cultural problem. Hart, for example, appears at half-time in adverts for shampoo. How does that help you win?
Joey Barton column has dig at Joe Hart for "shampooing" ad: "In England they think about earning money not matches." pic.twitter.com/GPkAzEEQ3l
— Simon Hart (@simon22ph) June 28, 2016
Alan Shearer/Rio Ferdinand
There is no point in pretending that we thought differently to the Newcastle legend before the game, but that doesn't make it any less amusing to highlight the confidence of Alan Shearer before the game, especially since it is such a common theme at major tournaments for England to blow their own doomed horn. Shearer was backed up by his punditry colleague and former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, who was a little more reserved in his prediction of victory.
Kudos to Thierry Henry, who issues a chillingly accurate warning at the very end of the clip...
It's a very, very good draw for England. And when you consider the population of Iceland, when you consider the Champions League experience in our team, the tournament experience in our team, then defeat for England is unthinkable.
So... England v Iceland then. Here are the thoughts of @alanshearer, @rioferdy5 & @thierryhenry #ENG #bbceuro2016 https://t.co/7URckI14tB
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 26, 2016
"Inept, embarrassing and clueless..."
A few words describing England's exit from #EURO2016 https://t.co/QQWGenIQ7J pic.twitter.com/4rx1K9jMMn— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 28, 2016
Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle isn't known for his comedic ability, perhaps apart from that ridiculous, Gerry McInerney-esque hairstyle he used to sport during his own days as an England international. But Waddle's rant after Iceland dumped the Anglo-Saxon enemy out of the competition is comic gold, especially right at the very end when he speculates on the possible Development Plan for future England sides.
"There are no leaders"
Chris Waddle pulls no punches on #ENG's #EURO2016 exit https://t.co/xcStpFK9Ma https://t.co/s03GNaFqtf— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) June 28, 2016
Gary Lineker
The BBC studio looked shaken as the post-match analysis got underway. Alan Shearer appeared utterly furious. Rio Ferdinand was a bit lost. And Jermaine Jenas looked slightly nervous, as if Shearer might take his anger out on him. As for Gary Lineker, his GCSE Geography went right out the window. Maybe one day...
Steve McClaren
If anyone can empathise with Roy Hodgson, Steve McClaren can. McClaren's failure to get England to get to the European Championships in 2008 looks like it could, along with a propensity for adopting the accent of whatever country he is currently working in, be his legacy in football; unfortunately for Hodgson the same fate appears set to befall him. McClaren was predicting a smooth performance from England before and during the game against Iceland. In fact, he was in the middle of making such a prediction when a Nordic boot put a rather inconvenient spanner in the English works.
WATCH: Plenty of people would have reacted in similar fashion to Steve McClaren at #ISL's second goal. #SSNHQ https://t.co/eZQ8mZCoxV
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 27, 2016
Harry Redknapp
'Arry Redknapp's failure to land the England manager's job raises its head every time the position becomes vacant. This time, Redknapp was the one landing the blows, bemoaning the lack of "identity" of the English national side on Talksport this morning. In a cosy conversation with the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast - "I don't fit the bill for them, mate" - Redknapp aimed a slightly sly, marginally below-the-belt dig at Hodgson, who was chosen for the job at a time when Redknapp was touted for the role.
The game's being run by academics at the top level...maybe there's someone at West Brom we can get (as manager)!
Ian Wright
Ian Wright was a brilliant player, even if his international career didn't quite match his club exploits for Arsenal. And he has turned out to be an excellent pundit on radio and TV, amusing and insightful. Not least when using one of the worst films in history as an analogy for the English side.
