England exit World Cup Twitter reaction: Ricky Gervais clings to Canadian heritage, while Gary Lineker makes Roman joke

England were automatically knocked out of the tournament when Costa Rica beat Italy

A Costa Rica fan holds up a sign reading "Good Bye England" during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group D match between Italy and Costa Rica at Arena Pernambuco on June 20, 2014 in Recife, Brazil. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Some of England’s most prolific tweeters took to Twitter on Friday night to react to the team’s not-so-shocking exit from the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

The three lions were automatically knocked out of the tournament as Costa Rica's win made it impossible for them to qualify.

Their departure came in what has been dubbed the best, and most unpredictable, Fifa World Cup tournament for years, in which favourites and reigning European and World champions Spain also failed to make it past the group stages.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan and comedian Ricky Gervais were both quick to dig into their family lineage in a sarcastic attempt to distance themselves from the losing team.

Writer Hugo Rifkind made the brave move of announcing he'd be supporting Germany, the favoured rivals of England fans.

As ever, House actor and all-round gentleman Hugh Laurie took the opportunity to praise Costa Rica, whose win forced England to go home by default.

Enthusiastic Twitter user and BBC Radio 1 and Asian Network DJ Nihal appeared to be on an emotional rollercoaster after the game, and went from cracking jokes to using tenuous metaphors to express his feelings of betrayal.

Footballing social media addicts also came out in full force, with former England legend and BBC presenter Gary Lineker cracking a bookish joke at Italy's expense.

Joey Barton, the so-called philosopher king of football, posted an almost Shakespearean Twitter essay on how the team could have improved their performance and now have to face the "elite footballing wilderness".

The Thick of It actor and comedian Chris Addison unwittingly summarised the thoughts of people uninterested by football, and suggested that England should direct its attention elsewhere.

As England fly home, Chile and Holland will join Brazil and Argentina among the favourites to win on 13 July, when the winner of the Fifa World Cup will be crowned.