The English have had a curse throughout the last 50 years, back in 1966 they won the World Cup in England with Sir Bobby Charlton in command. Since that trophy, England hasn't been able to win a single tournament despite having some of the most talented players in the world. Last summer at the Euros in France, everybody believed that this course would be broken but instead they got eliminated by puny side Iceland.
The backlash was as big as one could expect from both the English media and the fans, next time they play any kind of game they will most likely be jeered by the fans for the ridiculous manner in which they got beaten. Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere knows that those boos are well deserved, he hopes they can get reversed with good performances in the future.
Talking to the press ahead of the Premier League's kick-off this weekend, Wilshere said: "I think [we deserve the boos], because we know that we were not good enough. We know that we didn't reach the heights that the country expected us to meet. We didn't perform. And for us, as well, the main thing is to look at ourselves. We, as players, know that we were not good enough.
"Of course we let the fans down. We know that England fans are passionate, and they are going to show their frustration towards us. But I think it's important for us as players for the national team to focus on working for the new manager [Sam Allardyce], focus on what he wants us to do as a team."
About Allardyce's arrival, Wilshere added: "I'm happy with him, I think it's important that the England manager is English. I have worked under Fabio Capello and [former manager Roy] Hodgson, and they were both great, but I think it's important that he [the manager] is English and he shares the same passion as all of us. He knows what playing for England is all about, and I'm looking forward, if selected, to work with him.
"Watching his [Allardyce's] teams when I was growing up and over the last few years, one thing that stands out is that they are organized. People talk about his style of play, but I think he does what it takes to win games. And I think we need that with England as well, because every game you play at international level is different, you play against different teams, some teams that pass the ball, some teams that are more direct. You look at what he did with Sunderland and what he has done at other clubs, he knows what it takes to get the result, and I think that will be a positive thing for us."
Photo credit: Arsenal FC