Why are England so bad at most major sports??
constantly beaten and outplayed by much smaller nations like Australia,South Africa,NZ and other euro countries the last olympics was a disaster for the UK do they have a hope for sydney??

I just hope the england football side does not become as bad as their cricket team who are a joke and just get worse but where is the solution?

I firmly believe as a biased Aussie hehehe that within 10-15 years we will be a major force in soccer/football based on our domination of most sports we play. We won so many world championships last year it wasnt funny thats if england doesnt try to pinch all our players ehehehe the players we have now and coming through is very promising it just gets better for us plus i think our attitude is better england play like losers Australian teams play thinking their are the best it maybe arrogant but u need to play like winners to win England sadly dont.

ENGLAND DO HAVE RESOURCES AND FACILITIES TO IMPROVE.
AND OFCOURSE MONEY!!

I'm also Australian but I doubt if we will ever be a force in Soccer. We will produce good future players but other countries will produce good players too and Soccer will (in my opinion) never be the dominant sport of Australia and Aussie Rules, Rugby and Cricket will always be more popular.

BTW: I aggree with you about England being pathetic. I don't know why, they have got so many good players, the best league in the world but can't perform internationally.

Englands problem has existed for some considerable time and will continue to exist as long as the 'establishment' continues to run things.

In Cricket England possesses a number of great cricketers but they are often seen as a threat to the 'establishment' Botham was one. They dislike individualism within a team environment something essential when building a 'great' team. Tudor took wickets and scored a century on his England debut, where is he now?

Tony Currie, Duncan Mckenzie and Trevor Francis were the first of many outstanding individual talents which were never allowed to shine for England. Keegan was seen as the 'great team player' The others as 'show offs'. Hoddle and Waddle were seen the same way. Coppell was the great 'team player'.By the way a great team player for England is someone who runs all day and tells everyone how great the 'team' is. Hill,Barnes, Gascoigne the list goes on. Football genius's who would have been 'gods' in other national team but were relegated to play within the 'system'. Robson was seen as the great 'team player' his selection was never in doubt while these players were continually under the microscope on and off the field. The latest victims of this are Beckham and Steve McManaman. Ask how many Real Madrid players are warming the bench in this Championship, 100% or not.

Les Ferdinand, great talent, Keiron Dyer great talent, Andy Cole a striker with the best team in the country/Europe. What do they have in common. they weren't picked. Instead we go with Fowler and Phillips who both never kicked a ball in the champioships. Keown, Campbell and Adams who all struggled with the speed of the opposing forwards, something Ferdinad and Dyer are renowned for.

Bobby Robson and Terry Venables are the only two managers to let the individual play for England and they both got to the semi finals.
no coicidence they both had Paul Gascoigne.

England will continue to fail until someone has the balls to say, screw the 'establishment' we want to win.

Where is the next Shilton? We're screwed in this department. Take your pick.

3-5-3 we have to crowd the middle, no one plays with more than two up front.

Stockdale, Dyer and Ferdinand at the back.

Beckham, Mcmanaman, Scholes, Lampard and Cole(West hams cole) in midfield yes I know he was injured. Paul Scholes is beginning to look the business. Again I don't think he was fully fit.

Owen and Cole up front for now. Phillips could take his spot or Fowler. Forget Heskey.

By the way I think Owen was no where near 100%, he needs to be fully fit or get off the park.

Joe Cole is the next Gascoigne you read it here first folks.

Now with the influx of foreign players taking up key roles in English teams we are fast heading for the Euro basement. England must cultivate and protect its best players, let them go abroard and not forget them, give them regular outings in the National team in fact decide on a squad of 30 players and just play those for the next 3 years, making exceptions for absolutely brilliant improvements in others. Keep seniors around like Adams Ince and Shearer to bring the new kids along. Put Beckham,Cole and McManaman with Gascoigne. Keegan can make Gerrard into him,(why do you think he likes him so much) and Lampard with Batty and Wise. A real football academy for real footballers. Maybe Wilcox will emerge but Stockdale is ready for England right now and Dyer and Ferdinand too. Look at the speed of these games after the Sweden Belgium game I knew England were going to get killed and those two teams didn't qualify either.

I've watched England for over 30 years have pity on me.

Yes I meant Rio Ferdinand