Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterEnglands 2010 World Cup last-16 defeat to Germany remains one of the Three Lions most disappointing exits in recent memory.The post-mortem of the 4-1 thrashing by Englands fierce rivals suggested that there was a lack of harmony in the squad, but former Three Lions midfielder Joe Cole believes that this is far too simple an explanation as to what went wrong in Bloemfontein.Instead, Cole points to an unfortunate cocktail of injuries, misfortune and refereeing mistakes as the real reasons that Fabio Capellos side fell short.Joe Cole on Englands 2010 strugglesAsked if morale was a factor in the defeat to Germany, Cole insists that the outcome was dictated more by footballing factors than dressing room dynamics.No, he tells FourFourTwo. The Germany game turned out that way because they were a great side and I think we had some players playing who werent quite fit. You may like Theres going to be a moment where England are under the cosh to win the World Cup, someone is going to have to take the game by the scruff of the neck Joe Cole on what England need to do to win the World Cup Fabio Capello stopped us from going swimming with sharks. I was fuming! Joe Cole on the England squads boredom at the 2010 World Cup The 2002 World Cup was the first time I was around big names. It made me understand I was capable of playing with top players and at major tournaments Ashley Cole on Englands 2002 rollercoaster tournament The build-up to the 2010 World Cup was indeed dominated by injury doubts to key players, leaving Capello to shuffle his pack in South Africa.Becks was injured, Rio was injured you had Matty Upson and JT [John Terry] in defence, but JT was playing on the right, so there were a lot of things, Cole adds, before turning to another point of contention.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The last-16 tie against Germany had seen England concede in the 20th and 32nd minutes as Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski respectively put Joachim Lws side in control.Upson had given England a lifeline when he scored seven minutes before the break, with Frank Lampard following this up a minute later with a long-range strike that hit the crossbar, bounced over the goalline before spinning back onto the field of play - only for the referee not to award the goal.Then a bad decision by the officials, because Frank Lampard scored and it should have been 2-2, the former West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool man laments. What to read next We lost a lot of shootouts from 1990 and it became a thing. You have to credit Jordan Pickford and the boys theyve turned that round Joe Cole on how England ended their penalty hoodoo EXCLUSIVE Jordan Pickford says England glory depends on 'whether we can put out the best version of ourselves' England vs Croatia prediction, as Three Lions look for World Cup revenge With England currently looking to end 60 years of hurt during this summers tournament in North America, Cole insists that the Three Lions also need fate to go their way.Its never just one thing, he goes on. Thats why in this World Cup, everything needs to work. If the big man upstairs says its Englands time, then its Englands time.This is a view shared by his former club and country team-mate Ashley Cole, who also believes that luck is among the attributes that England need this summer."I think England can win it, the former Three Lions left-back adds. We showed the level we can get to by reaching finals, semi-finals. Its just the next part luck, weather, players staying fit, the bits you cant control. Weve certainly got the players to do it, theyve just got to have the belief.Could It Be Coming Home? with Joe Cole and Ashley Cole is brought to you by Carling, official sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Womens FA Cup. Watch the show on YouTube and Spotify, or listen to it wherever you get your podcastsTOPICSEnglandWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
