Not since a pony-tailed David Seaman escorted a speculative Ronaldinho free-kick into his own net has a goalkeeper provoked such furore, but Robert Green cannot escape it.
The West Ham man is pictured on every paper wielding a golf club in jibe-central, while even his love life is wedged out of the rough and rival David James throws down his putter in a paddy.
James is reportedly 'livid' at being overlooked for the number one spot, as the blame game post 'Butterfinger-gate' goes into overdrive.
"From tee to Green", "I'll putt it right, lads", "Another shot dropped"....you get the gist.
The shot-stopper thinks Fabio Capello has 'unfairly excluded' him from the side due to a knee problem, according to the Daily Mail, while the Italian is described as 'going mental' in the Daily Express.
The shaggy-haired Portsmouth keeper is understood to be 'mystified and disillusioned' at being left out, so say the Times, as the rivalry for the starting berth intensifies.
The Daily Express report that James has a frosty relationship with both Capello's assistant Franco Baldini and England psychologist Christian Lattanzio with relations at breaking point.
The debate wrangles on over who should wear the goalkeeping jersey, with Green reportedly begging Capello to give him another chance (The Star) and Joe Hart reminding everyone he is still around (Daily Mirror).
The Guardian continues to lament Capello's 'irrational player choices', while the Daily Mirror focus on Green's pre-finals split from model Elizabeth Minett - 'another ill-timed drop'.
Alan Shearer slams Emile Heskey in The Sun and says 'everyone knew deep down that he wouldn't convert those key chances.'
Meanwhile, former Arsenal keeper Bob Wilson blames Capello for England's goalkeeping traumas due to 'messing about in the team's preparations' in the same paper.
The Daily Star insist that England are still going to win the World Cup, with a quote from Capello's mum telling the nation to "keep the faith".
Moving on to Australia where last night's thrashing by Germany came too late for the print press but former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has slammed coach Pim Verbeek and skipper Lucas Neill in the online version of the Sydney Morning Herald (pictured, left).
Columnist Michael Cockerill slams the Aussie performance:
"The Socceroos, or at least those players we have come to identify as our national team, have passed their use-by date. On the evidence of this excruciating football lesson handed out by Germany, there's no doubt they have," he mused.
"The most lop-sided contest of the World Cup so far offered no solace for the Socceroos. None. Not for the players, particularly Tim Cahill, whose red card looked harsh, but merely reflected the general level of frustration and ill-temper. And certainly not for Pim Verbeek whose first shot at the big time ended in disaster. Complete, utter disaster."
In Germany, the mood is understandably buoyant, with national paper Bild declaring triumphantly "That'll be our tournament" (pictured, right).
But hold your horses Germany, according to the Sun, Italy drew with the USA in 2006 and went on to lift the trophy. Apparently, that's all you need to know.