Several England players have hit back at Hope Powell after their coach accused some of them of "cowardice" ahead of the Women's World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout.Coach Powell, 44, said she had to ask three times for volunteers to take the crucial spot-kicks against France.
But midfielder Jill Scott, supported by two team-mates, Tweeted: "You win as a team, you lose as a team".
England eventually lost 4-3 in the shootout after the match ended 1-1.
Scott was backed up by Karen Bardsley and Claire Rafferty.
And striker Eniola Aluko, who did not take play against France, added: "Obviously [that saying] is just words. Unbelievable."
Powell's comments were also in stark contrast to her mood immediately after the match according to Casey Stoney.
"I don't think anyone's a coward and that's not the impression I got from Hope when she debriefed us after the game," Stoney told BBC Radio 5 live.
"She said she was very proud and we should hold our heads up high."
Injured striker Kelly Smith and forward Karen Carney were the only non-defenders to take penalties.
They both scored with defender Casey Stoney tucking the third penalty away before debutant Claire Rafferty and skipper Faye White missed the last two kicks to send England home.
Rafferty, 21, only came onto the pitch nine minutes before the end of normal time for her World Cup debut.
Powell said on Saturday: "Faye said 'Right, if no-one else wants to do it I will do it'."
The missed kick may have been the 33-year-old's last act in an England shirt.
"Three times I had to ask [for volunteers] before anyone stepped forward," added Powell.
"'Where are you?' I was thinking, and then a young kid is the first to put her hand up. And Kelly Smith was dying on her feet but she stepped up and took one.
"You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14094540.stm Not good, not good at all. New team, or new coach. But they will not be able to work together again.