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Those situations only occur once every twenty games or so. I'd accept an extra thirty seconds gap in those rare occasions to have a video ref who can deal not only with that, but also penalty appeals, off the ball incidents and bad tackles.

The last ten minutes of games would degenerate into a morass of challenges and substitutions. 5th ref is perfect. The question is whether he has veto power over the ref, or acts as an advisor. I think 'chip in the ball' style technology would be about as effective as having a video ref, more expensive, and much less useful. So I'd rather they introduced a video ref straight away. The orange card idea is needlessly complicated, but I would have a rugby union style clock (that stops when the ball goes out of play), to cut out timewasting. Also it's obvious to everyone that clear diving and incorrectly judged dangerous play should be punished after the game.

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Those Brazilian football schools, which apparently are the largest football training organization worldwide, should prove or disprove this. I suspect both youth development and risk aversion play a role. Pacheco is a good example; young players need first team hours to develop, but skillful, slight players are much more difficult to introduce, especially where the league is as physical as the Premiership. The result is obvious.

Ah, missed that.

The highest density of battle fatalities ever, anywhere, that's astounding. (MOTD just did a 10/15m segment on the battle of Spion Kop)

Fair enough. But really, do you not see a contrived media narrative when you see it? It's perfectly reasonable to play one out and out winger, and Joe Cole is not good enough to further contort the team to fit him in.

Is a response what is necessary? You need the players above all to do their job competently, and passion does not necessarily help. Brave Joe Cole didn't have much effect after coming on. That's another fig leaf.

We need a competent manager, and Stuart Pearce is not that. If England sack Capello the whole circus will restart, with our collective memory happily wiped clean.

It is pretty bizarre that England hardly close down play at all. Surely they don't believe they are too good to bother. They do miss a fastish competent defensive midfielder. I'm not sure I agree about trying to play a continental game, by which I understand a patient build-up. After all, Heskey didn't play in every game for his scintillating interplay. I hope the biggest effect will be a gentle deflation of the English sense of entitlement. An adult response is probably the best way to prepare for the next tournament. To me that means ideally not only keeping Capello, but avoiding any major campaign to sack him. Which unfortunately isn't going to happen.

The performance was too bad to scapegoat Capello with it. The English game is flawed.

England playing for pride now?

England will inevitably use the injustice to sink into a morass of indignation.

Ronaldo behaving like a w***** is hardly comment-worthy.

Yeah true, and the tackle on Alonso was a borderline red for me.

Staying on the ground was worse. Just a trip, and he was down for 3/4 minutes, not moving either as if he was seriously injured.

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At least there's no obvious way to scapegoat the manager. The favourite ifonly situation was Gerrard behind Rooney, and Rooney was abject.

England are being outplayed here.