England stars get mixed reception on Wembley return

England’s World Cup flops endured a mixed reception on their return to Wembley as John Terry and Ashley Cole were singled out for jeers in Wednesday’s friendly against Hungary, but the rest of Fabio Capello’s side were spared the predicted abuse.

Just 45 days after England’s dismal World Cup campaign ended in a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Germany, Capello’s team were back in action and it quickly became clear who their own supporters blamed for the debacle in South Africa.

England coach Capello and captain Steven Gerrard had both admitted before the friendly that they expected a hostile reception from the Wembley crowd.

Their worst fears were only partially realised as Terry, Cole, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney were booed by sections of the estimated 60,000 crowd when their names were read out over the public address system before kick-off.

The fact that over 20,000 fans had opted to stay away suggested that supporters preferred to show their discontent by voting with their feet.

And once the match started it was only Chelsea duo Terry and Cole who had to suffer a continued chorus of disapproval whenever they touched the ball.

It was hardly surprising that those two were to get the worst treatment.

Cole has been public enemy number one with the English football public since he made what has been perceived as money-motivated transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea several years ago.

He has already been booed by England fans in the past and was reported to have told a friend after the World Cup that he would love to leave the country due to the reporting of his separation from his popstar wife – hardly a comment guaranteed to win favour with patriotic fans of the national team.

Terry was also something of an unpopular figure even before England’s World Cup flop after being stripped of the captaincy following his affair with the ex girlfriend of former international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

The jeers gradually seemed to subside for those after the first 20 minutes however, suggesting England fans are a more forgiving bunch than many believed.