The World Cup isn’t supposed to be like this.<\/p>\n
For all that soccer is known as the “beautiful game,” this tournament has typically offered little for romantics: In this sport, the favorites usually win\u201d\u201dand when it comes to the world’s most coveted trophy, that means Europe.<\/p>\n
Home to the best professional leagues and the biggest superstars, half of the 18 World Cups have been won by European countries. You’ve got to go back to 1950 to find the last time a team from this continent failed to make the final. But as the 2010 World Cup entered its second week, England was held to a 0-0 draw by lowly Algeria\u201d\u201done of the country’s most embarrassing results in this tournament since its defeat by the United States in 1950. “We are not in a good moment,” said England coach Fabio Capello. “I don’t know if it’s the pressure but it’s not the team I know.”<\/p>\n
The long list of underachievers from the old world already comprises France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and\u201d\u201dafter its shock defeat by Serbia early Friday\u201d\u201dGermany.<\/p>\n