With Fabio Capello in charge of the team, England qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with some ease but were disappointing in the tournament itself. Injury prevented David Beckham from appearing in his fourth World Cup finals and in August Capello announced to the press that the former captain's international career was over.
2010
2010 World Cup
2010 Change
2010 World Cup Change
England's new red change kit was farcically launched in Paris at a concert by Kasabian in February 2010, where it was met, understandably by a rousing chorus of booing. Although clearly inspired by the iconic 1966 World Cup final strip, the effect was rather spoiled by the prominent white cuffs (which are even more pronounced on the long-sleeved version. The sleeves and shoulders were a slightly darker red than the main body and a single star (signifying England's solitary World Cup win) was embroidered above the crest. The stripe on the shorts sloped to the rear rather than following the seam as is traditional and the England crest appeared in red.
Replicas prepared for the 2010 FIFA World Cup had "South Africa" embroidered below the FA crest in place of the individual opponents. The all-red alternate version was used during the tournament against Slovenia and Germany.
2010-2012
2010-2012
2010-2012 Change
After England's disappointing performance in South Africa, a change of strip for the European Championship was, perhaps, a welcome development even if it did break the normal cycle of two-year shelf lives for new strips. Worn for the first time at Wembley against Bulgaria on 3 September, dark blue shorts were reinstated, in a rather richer shade than the traditional navy. The only red featuring on the shirt was in the date printed below the FA crest and in the rather odd pattern of tiny dots across the shoulders.