guess the english really aren't what they used to be...

looking for evidence that england has not been the football force it used to be has proven to be quite easy. while it's safe to say that the epl is probably the most watched national football league in the world, english clubs have only won the champions' league twice in its current format. when united did it in 99, there were only 6 british players in the starting eleven: 1 irishman (denis irwin), 1 welshman (ryan giggs) and 4 englishmen (beckham, butt, gary neville and andy cole). the last two years when liverpool won and arsenal reached the finals, liverpool started with a paltry 3 brits (one irish and two english) whilst arsenal had only 2 englishmen flying the england flag. so much for the mighty british.

in fact, the last time a team entirely comprised of british players that won a european cup final was all the way back in 1982, when aston villa did it with 8 englishmen and 3 scots. how the world of football has changed.

with more and more foreigners coming into england and few english players going out, englishmen have definitely had a tougher time. especially when the english style is becoming more and more susceptible to the general continental style employed by other european clubs. especially with fewer and fewer of the technically gifted breed of englishmen coming through the ranks, it is clear where the problem lies.

something's gotta change in england. the current problems in the team are telling indeed. if things don't change, it's going to be even rougher for the three lions in the years to come.