Home Humiliation: When hosts fail to fire

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1/8 The list must of course begin with the highly vaunted English rugby team, who were bundled from their own tournament after just three matches.
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2/8 It's not unusual for English teams though, after the 1999 Cricket World Cup in which England failed to make it out of the pool, despite home advantage.
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3/8 Sticking with cricket, only one of the 1992 host nations made the playoffs - and it wasn't Australia, who missed the semis in part due to a loss against New Zealand.
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4/8 Individual athletes have also failed to make a mark on home events. Greek sprinter Kostas Kenteris was banned for failing to undertake a drug test the day before the 2004 Athens Olympics.
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5/8 Jane Saville's heart was broken in front of home crowds at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when she was disqualified near the finish line of the walking event.
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6/8 South Africa have bombed out of two home tournaments. The first was when they failed to exit their Pool at the 2003 Cricket World Cup - compounding the agony, Kenya made the semis.
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7/8 South Africa also failed to advance from their pool in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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8/8 An honourable mention has to go to the 2002 USA Basketball team, who were favourites before their home FIBA World Cup, and finished an incredibly disappointing 6th place.
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There's nothing like home advantage in sport. Then again, there's nothing worse than bombing out in front of a home crowd.

Following England's humiliating exit from the Rugby World Cup, we take a look back at other examples of host athletes and teams who disappointed in front of their home crowds.

(Photos: Getty Images)