LONDON (Reuters) – British newspapers were unsparing in their condemnation of the England soccer team after they were defeated 4-1 by Germany in the second round of the World Cup in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

The headlines made grim reading with both the players and coach Fabio Capello carrying the can for the last-16 exit.

"You Let Your Country Down" was the front page of the mass circulation The Sun which devoted its first nine pages to England's defeat.

The back page said "Time's Up Fab" calling for Italian Capello to resign.

Even Frank Lampard's first half "goal" that was not given despite the ball bouncing well over the line when the score was 2-1 was not held up as an excuse.

"Lampard Travesty fails to hide England defects" said the Daily Telegraph while the Daily Mail reaction was "Awful England Have No Excuse."

Despite arriving in South Africa as one of the favourites England misfired through a group containing the United States, Algeria and Slovenia and were outplayed by Germany.

"By the bedraggled and humiliating finish here, even the old standbys, the cry of injustice and the desperate grasp for the moral victory had been torn into ruins," wrote John Dillon in the Daily Express.

man, i was really looking forward to watching the Germany v. England game, figuring that it'd be a great match... but damn, England just got worked over by the germans... i felt for the fans, though, since that's how i felt saturday watching the US team against Ghana.

it sucks.