Joe Hart opens up on his infamous rant at the 2014 World Cup when he told a ballboy to 'give me the f***ing ball' during defeat by Italy - as he claims he was just 'trying to do what was right at the time'

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Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has explained his infamous rant at a ballboy at the 2014 World Cup.

With England trailing 2-1 to Italy in their opening game of the tournament in Brazil, Hart was seen screaming 'Give me the f***ing ball' at a ballboy in the closing stages of the game.

The clip went viral at the time and still often appears on social media.

Hart stated that he had grown frustrated with the ballboys and ballgirls taking too long to return the ball and added that he was eager to get England back up the pitch quickly as they looked to get an equaliser.

The incident occurred just after Italy's Andrea Pirlo had hit the crossbar with an incredible free-kick.  

Ex-England goalkeeper Joe Hart has explained his rant at a ballboy at the 2014 World Cup

Hart had grown frustrated with the ballboys and ballgirls taking too long to return the ball

Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Hart said: 'So I've just seen one of the craziest free-kicks ever, deep in the jungle, in the Amazon rainforest against Italy, and all game the ball boys or ball girls were ball-boying and ball-girling the moment, the occasion.

'And I was there to try and win a game and we're 2-1 down there, I think we're in extra-time and I needed the ball. 

'I was just fed up of having to wait for the ball to come back in because I realised there wasn't long to go and that was how I felt.'

Hart admitted that his actions were '100 per cent wrong' but added that he really wanted England to turn the game around.  

He said: 'It's 100 per cent wrong. I shouldn't be shouting at anyone 'Give me the ball' like that, but I needed that ball because I wanted to get it in play and get on with trying to keep England in the World Cup.

'That was just me being desperate to keep my country in the World Cup and looking back, this happened a long time ago and it's only recently that everyone seems to scream that in my face. 

Hart admitted his actions were wrong but says he was trying to do what he felt was right at the time

'But what can you do? It happened and I was trying to do what was right at the time.' 

England ended up losing the game 2-1. Claudio Marchisio had given the Italy the lead before an equaliser from Daniel Sturridge. Mario Balotelli then scored what proved to be the winner. 

The Three Lions finished bottom of their group after losing 2-1 to Uruguay and drawing 0-0 with Costa Rica.

Hart, who recently retired from football, made 75 appearances for England between 2008 and 2017.