19 Nov 2010

England savaged after loss to France

1:02 pm on 19 November 2010

England's footballers were given a media savaging after being outclasssed by a resurgent France in Thursday's friendly international at Wembley.

The Times chief football writer Oliver Kay described England's performance as "brainless" and "gutless," adding that the French victory was "far more comprehensive" than the 2-1 scoreline suggested.

Several reports suggested that France, unlike England, had moved on from their World Cup nightmare, while one correspondent described manager Fabio Capello as looking increasingly like a man going through the motions, no longer really caring.

Yesterday's game was costly for Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard, who'll be sidelined for up to four weeks with a "significant" hamstring injury.