Fans demand immediate action after Luke Littler and Luke Humphries on end of stunning defeat for England in Darts World Cup
England’s Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, the world No. 2 and No. 1, suffered a stunning 8-4 defeat to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round of the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt on June 14, prompting an outpouring of fan frustration on social media, per SportBible. The reigning champions, expected to dominate the tournament, were outplayed by the inspired German duo, who capitalized on England’s missed doubles and subpar scoring, per @OfficialPDC. The hostile Frankfurt crowd, booing Littler and Humphries during their walk-on to ‘Vindaloo,’ added pressure, with X posts like @1_hunz labeling the performance “absolutely embarrassing” and claiming the Germans “had them rattled,” per.
Fans demanded immediate action, with @mrjamescoughlan suggesting the loss “massively got into their heads” as favorites, while @GINGERINIESTA91 called it a “shocker” but praised Schindler’s class, per,. Some, like Wayne Mardle on Sky Sports, humorously remarked on England’s collapse, a sentiment fans echoed online, per SportBible. Criticism focused on the duo’s lack of doubles practice, with Humphries’ pre-tournament refusal to train with Littler—citing their individual prowess—drawing scrutiny, per GB News. Littler, making his World Cup debut, struggled under the crowd’s hostility, a recurring issue in Germany, per Sky Sports.
Calls for action included better preparation for hostile environments and improved doubles synergy, with fans noting the pair’s lack of competitive practice together, per @SkySportsDarts. Despite the upset, Germany’s Schindler emphasized, “They are not unbeatable,” a view validated by their clinical performance, per Sky Sports. As Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland advanced, England’s early exit left fans urging a rethink of strategy for future team events, per Daily Record.
