Expressing his frustration after England's World Cup disaster, goalkeeper David James spoke his heart out, laying bare the frustration at the heart of England's World Cup disaster.

England players drank until dawn after World Cup exit: James

Expressing his frustration after England's World Cup disaster, goalkeeper David James spoke his heart out, laying bare the frustration at the heart of England's World Cup disaster.

James said tactical blunders allowed lowly opponents Germany to outplay England us by switching their game style of play, and added fury in the dressing room at half time in Bloemfontein caused our disastrous 4-1 defeat at the hands of Germany.

Gutted Engalnd stars drowned their sorrows till dawn at the team's infamous cigar-smoking hotel wake.

James insisted England would have beaten Germany if Frank Lampard's "goal" had been given. The shot bounced a yard over the line but Uruguayan officials waved play on.

He said the mood in the camp was sombre and that players were filled with remorse. James said, "There was a cigar smoked - but I can assure you that no one was celebrating. It wasn't a happy 'who cares?' situation back at the hotel. There was a lot of soul searching going on."

"People smoke cigars but it was nothing to do with success or failure. The reality was we weren't leaving until the following morning and we were trying to come to terms with tremendous disappointment," The Sun quoted James, as saying.

"We had a few drinks afterwards because... why not? We were out - it was all over. It went on for hours, I think until dawn broke, drinking and talking about football. It was like exorcising a ghost - it had to be done.

"The wake went on all night and we ended up going off on some odd tangents after a few vodkas. I looked over to Wayne Rooney and he was a desolate figure. We were all at rock bottom," he said.

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