ENGLAND'S football flops relax just hours after their humiliating World Cup exit - with beers and a CIGAR.
The pampered players kicked back in their South African hotel after Sunday's 4-1 thrashing by Germany ended their tournament early, shattering the dreams of millions of fans.The photo - which shows winger Aaron Lennon puffing on a Cuban cigar - was allegedly taken by defender Ledley King and then circulated among pals with the title: "Home time then holiday time."
Yesterday the shameful shower slunk back into the UK.
The picture, haplessly sent by King to his pals using BlackBerry Messenger, reveals how England's superstars got over their World Cup woes.
And with feet on tables, the group looked remarkably relaxed at their HQ - the plush Royal Marang Hotel near Rustenburg, South Africa - despite not even coming close to lifting the tournament's glittering trophy.
Others pictured with Spurs ace Lennon were fellow winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, striker Jermain Defoe, and defenders Glen Johnson, Michael Dawson and Stephen Warnock.
Beside them, beer bottles nestle on the table, while an ice bucket for wine or champagne can also be seen among the empty glasses. The players, flown straight to the hotel from their defeat in Bloemfontein, crowded into the bar to chill out as millions of England fans worldwide nursed crushed dreams.
One disgusted fan yesterday leaked the picture to The Sun after being shocked by the team's apparent carefree attitude.
He said: "Many of my friends spent thousands flying to South Africa to watch this bunch of losers. When England crashed out, they were that gutted over how it went so wrong.
"At the least after that God-awful performance we expected the team to be embarrassed and reflect on how they let us all down.
"But instead, just hours after the match, they're in the bar with a cigar and beers. It's enough to make you sick. They have no pride."
The squad arrived home at dawn yesterday - touching down at London's Heathrow Airport where they dodged irate fans by leaving via a restricted gate.
Their low-key arrival was greeted fittingly by a downpour, as predicted by The Sun's front page.
After stepping from their first class Virgin Atlantic flight at 6.20am, the dejected-looking players were whisked through a VIP suite normally used by ROYALS.
They then climbed into chauffeur-driven cars, barely bidding each other goodbye.
The Football Association had launched a security operation to shield the stars from the public gaze. Yet the only fans waiting to see them were furious ones who had spent thousands following the team to South Africa - and were at the airport to demand refunds.
Tim O'Leary, 33, from Maida Vale, West London, shelled out £8,000 to watch England in the World Cup.
He said: "I'd have booed them if they'd had the guts to face us."
Fellow fan David Thompson, 25, from Croydon, South London, said: "What cowards."
Even on their flight home England's pampered stars caused grief for hundreds of fans.
Virgin bosses made sure the squad got back as quickly as possible. But fans had to wait for a second plane, called in at the last minute.
Gary Oswald and wife Alison were waiting in Johannesburg for two hours. Air traffic controller Gary, 50, said: "If they'd won the cup I'd have happily given them our plane and walked home. But they were abysmal."
England boss Fabio Capello, due to discuss his position with FA chiefs in a fortnight, trudged across the airport tarmac with his head bowed. But three hours after returning to his Knightsbridge home, he set off on holiday - boarding a flight to Zurich, Switzerland.
Meanwhile TV girl Christine Bleakley, 31, sparked speculation she is ENGAGED to England's Frank Lampard. She was seen leaving his London home wearing a ring on her wedding finger. Her spokesman denied the couple were to wed.
Additional reporting: GARY O'SHEA
Read more:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3035277/England-teams-booze-up-after-World-Cup-thrashing.html#ixzz0sMCOhtoX
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