The humiliated England football team have arrived back in the UK as the future of their manager Fabio Capello hung in the balance, following the squad's World Cup capitulation.

The players touched down at London's Heathrow airport at around 6.20am on Tuesday.

Many of them were dressed in official England team suits and appeared weary as they walked across the tarmac to waiting cars.

There were glum faces and few smiles as David Beckham led the team off the plane, with Jamie Carragher and Michael Carrick just behind him.

An entourage of players' wives, girlfriends and children followed them onto the tarmac.

The players will be expecting a hostile reception after the majority of the nation's press, pundits and football fans turned on them following their efforts in South Africa.

On Monday, the Italian manager claimed he wanted to stay at the helm despite the team's thrashing by the Germans in Bloemfontein. But the Italian must wait two weeks to learn his fate.

Capello told reporters at a press conference in South Africa: "I spoke with (Club England chairman) Sir Dave Richards and he told me that he needs two weeks to decide."

Asked whether he would like to stay in his role, the Italian said: "Absolutely. I said I can be the manager of England for the next season, but it is for him (Richards) to decide. We spoke also about the players that can play for the next qualification and I know what I have to do."

Asked about the performance of his players, Capello said they were tired after their hectic Premier League season. And he pointed to Frank Lampard's disallowed second goal, suggesting the outcome of Sunday's game might have been different if the referee had got the decision right.