The word party-poopers is usually used for teams that are not very experienced but has some players who, with their individual brilliance, can lead their team to upset more experienced and fancied teams. Who would have thought at the beginning of this World Cup that the defending champions England would be reduced to being called possible party spoilers.
Their party has not just taken off with New Zealand beating them handsomely in the first game of the tournament and then Afghanistan and Sri Lanka also pouring cold water on their dreams of advancing to the knockouts.
Of course, technically they can still do that, but right now they can only be party spoilers for the teams they are due to play in their remaining matches.
