Why England can't win the World Cup (opens in new tab)

England won both of their final pre-World Cup warm-ups in Florida. A 1-0 win over New Zealand was designed as a leg-stretcher, 22 players each playing a half; then Costa Rica, who have not qualified for the World Cup, were dismissed 3-0. But before patriotic pride is kindled, and hope begins to swell, it’s worth looking back to the end of March and a pair of friendlies against Uruguay and Japan that offered nothing to suggest England are a team about to end their 60-year wait for a major trophy.