Unlike most of the
country, England's players look like the World Cup humiliation
hasn't hit them too hard judging by this photo.
Smoking cigars, feet
up, smiling and relaxing with a few beers, you'd think this was a
team celebrating a famous victory.
Escape from defeat:
From left, Aaron Lennon with cigar, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jermain
Defoe and Glen Johnson, while Michael Dawson sits between two
smiling teammates
Ashley Cole launched a foul-mouthed rant about England and
its 'people' days before flying out to the World Cup to play
football for his country.
The disgraceful message - which read 'I hate England and
the f***ing people' - was sent to pals from the Chelsea defender's
Blackberry shortly before he boarded a flight to England's
pre-World Cup training camp in Austria.
The 29 year old posted it as his status message -
alongside a picture of him sunbathing topless - allowing all those
designated as his friends to see it.
But Cole yesterday said: 'I always try my hardest for
England and Chelsea but the intrusion and pressure I feel is making
my life hell.'
Instead, this is
England's hapless footballers just hours after crashing out to
Germany 4-1 in the nation's worst ever World Cup defeat.
The snap was taken by defender Ledley King on Sunday in the
Hotel Marang in Rustenberg, where the England team was holed
up.
Taken on his BlackBerry phone, it was apparently leaked by
someone using a function which allows selected friends to share
photos.
The image is low quality but Aaron Lennon can be seen
puffing on a cigar, while fellow winger Shaun Wright-Phillips,
striker Jermain Defoe, right back Glen Johnson and Michael Dawson
are among the others chatting merrily around tables dotted with
beer bottles and empty glasses.
Under-fire England boss Fabio Capello arrived back in
Britain yesterday with his players after their disastrous World Cup
campaign.
But within hours the £6million-a-year manager had jetted
off again on holiday with his wife.
Rather than staying at home to face the wrath of England
fans after the team's worst-ever World Cup defeat on Sunday, the
64-year-old Italian grabbed his bags and headed for a
break.
Defiant: England manager Fabio Capello - who has
refused to resign - arrives back at his London home
Fleeing the country: Fabio Capello and wife Laura
jet off on holiday just hours after the England manager returned
from South Africa
He was photographed with wife Laura checking in to Swiss
Air's business class desk at London City Airport en route to
Swizerland.
Meanwhile his players also enjoyed a return to their
pampered lifestyles, with Frank Lampard enjoying time with his TV
presenter girlfriend Christine Bleakley and Steven Gerrard taking
his wife, Alex, out for a leisurely lunch.
Bleakley had followed her 32-year-old boyfriend to South
Africa and had travelled back with him on the plane last
night.
The players, who are facing mounting anger over their
World Cup performances, arrived at Heathrow shortly after 6am and
immediately tried to shuffle out of view.
Unlike returning fans, the players were whisked through a
VIP suite without having to pass through one of Heathrow's
terminals - or face the waiting press.
They were then driven to their mansions in a fleet of
people carriers.
David Beckham, who Capello invited along as a member of
England's backroom team after an injury prevented him from playing,
flew on to Nice to holiday with wife Victoria and their three
sons.
The couple have a huge chateau in nearby
Bargemon.
Something to tell us? TV presenter Christine
Bleakley - wearing a ring on her engagement finger - and
boyfriend Frank Lampard leave his London home
Lunch date: England skipper Steven Gerrard takes
his wife Alex for lunch in Southport, Merseyside
Family trip: A casual-looking David Beckham - who
has rarely been seen out of his three-piece suit lately - arrives
at Nice Airport en route to Bargemon where Victoria and the
children are staying at their chateau
