My condolences to our English friends. There's not enough whiskey in Ireland for my name to be McClaren right now.
Posted on 11/21/2007 2:11:54 PM PST by arbooz
LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - England's Euro 2008 hopes finally disappeared at Wembley on Wednesday when they lost 3-2 to already-qualified Croatia having fought their way back from 2-0 down to briefly taste the draw they needed to go through.
The home crowd was stunned after eight minutes when Scott Carson, controversially chosen in goal after making his debut in a friendly only last week, allowed a speculative long-range shot by Niko Kranjcar to skid off past him and into the net, and it looked all over when Ivica Olic doubled the lead six minutes later.
England got level with a 56th-minute Frank Lampard penalty followed by a great goal by striker Peter Crouch, who expertly controlled a David Beckham cross before volleying the goal that had the home fans dreaming.
Croatia, though, continued to look dangerous and won it in the 77th-minute when substitute Mladen Petric lashed in a shot from the edge of the box - allowing Russia to climb above England and take second place in Group E.
ML/NJ
A terrible display. McLaren had better do the honourable thing and resign. So should Brain Barwick (head of the FA).
What a shambles! The English team was given a lifeline by Israel a couple of days ago and all they had to do is draw against a team that has already qualified.
McLaren needs to be sacked, hopefully to be replaced by someone like Jose Mourinho or Fabio Capello. England could really use a tactician at the helm. Lippi would’ve come if it wasn’t for the English media who crucify anyone holding the English managerial position.
Steve Gerrard is a joke. The guy has never performed in big games. The same for Lampard. And for G_d’s sakes, why start Carson as goalkeeper when you have James on the bench?
I don’t know, maybe in the long run it’s better for England not to qualify for Euro 2008. The FA has been making one mistake after another for the past few years. I think it’s time to shock the system there. Start by sacking McLaren and all the idiots who appointed him knowing he wasn’t a coach that could handle the manager job. Start running some players from the U21 team, at least they’ll play with national pride.
Agree. McClaren is Barwick's guy, and he's already stated he won't resign but "accepts responsibility". Tomorrow morning at 8:30 Steve's fate will be decided.
A few comments...
I guess LA Galaxy doesn’t have to worry about losing Beckham to the English NT during next summer...All Beckham could do next year is to play for Galaxy.
In US, ESPN is gonna broadcast Euro games next year...Now with England not in, I am not sure if I am gonna watch many Euro games next year. I guess I will watch the final though.
FA should have tried to hire Guus Hiddink when he was available...He managed the Korean team to 4th place in 2002 WC. Now, Hiddink will manage the Russian team in Euro next year.
I am familiar only with several national teams...Like Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal...Many from those teams play for English clubs.
At least,Robinson and James have experience...I don’t even know what club Carson plays for...
I think one goal went in because Carson was not experienced. In other two cases, I am not sure he could have done much.
I think English Premier League is just as good as Serie A and Bundesliga...Arsenal or Man U could win the Champions League...
Take into account injuries...John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Emile Huskey...
I think the quota would go against the EU policy...
I think the managers should be allowed to get best players without worrying about meeting the “English” quota...
Scott Carson is Aston Villa’s 20 year old reserve keeper .
Last night was his first England appearance , and the mistakes he made do not do him justice . He really should not have been picked for this game .
As for Gerrard , Lampard , and Cole ; well , I don’t know what was going through their heads with those performances .Apart from Crouch, the wole lot of them performed as if they had never met before - maybe their millionare Hollywood - like status is now more important than putting on that famous white shirt . I had an idea that we might not pull through .
Looking at your screen name I assume you are an LA dude . Don’t listen to our younger fans or our media hype about the present England squad ; we are only average no matter who manages us .
People need to get it into their thick skulls that we are NOT a superpower !
We have not been since Mexico ‘70 and never will be again .
Bush’s fault !
The English Premier League is great because of its huge influx of foreign players to the league. If it’s only players from the UK, the English are a bit overrated in soccer, though.
That's what I meant by referring to the "last laugh" in the earlier post. Gus (or Guus if you prefer) was FA's first choice. However, when invited for the interview, he felt he was treated disrespectively and left in a huff, subsequently accepting Russia's offer. Now that McClaren is out of a job somewhat at Russia's expense, this must feel like the best vindication.
That's what the debate is about. Many feel that the EPL needs to promote and grow native players in order to develop a strong national team. Right now, the team on top of the EPL table is Arsenal, which is virtually 100% foreign.
I'm sure injuries had their effect on the match, especially on the defence, where Terry could've made a difference. However, it's not just the last match that decided England's fate; their entire Euro campaign was lame, which has precipitated their precarious position in the end - losing control of their destiny until receiving a gift from Israel.
Without a doubt. Seems that even he would have done a better coaching job...he's responsible for not volunteering for it...
Anyway, the scapegoat has been fired and that was the easy part. I think the problem is deeper than just a coach. As one local paper put it : "We're just second rate now". I think there's no shortage of talent in the nation, but the system has to be shaken up considerably to remedy the malaise. It is a sad day in the land, but it sure was a long time coming.
Carson is the reserve goalkeeper...Like Jens Lehmann of Arsenal. Interesting...Oliver Kahn, the former No.1 goalkeeper for the German NT, expressed his puzzlement as to why Lehmann is still the German NT’s goalkeeper. In Kahn’s opinion, the German NT’s goalkeeper should play for his club every match...
At least, Robinson and James are No. 1 goalkeepers for their respective clubs...
Speaking of Crouch...He has not played too frequently for Liverpool this season. Benitez didn’t play him for most matches...
No section of UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) is sending a team to next year’s Euro...
I was thinking maybe Scotland might make it...But, Italy beat Scotland.
Who are some “famous” EPL players from Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland?
OK...Man U manager Sir Alex is from Scotland...
Ryan Giggs (Man U) is from Wales...
Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez is from N. Ireland...Was late George Best from N. Ireland?
0-0 against Macedonia? I think English squad is WAY better than the Macedonian squad...
0-0 against Israel in Israel? OK, the Israel team has at least two players who play in the EPL...
I think Arsenal has at least one English player in the first team...Walcott.
George Best was a Belfast boy , making his debut for the Red Devils aged 15 in 1962 .
Most of England’s squad on Wednesday night were from the Premiership .
Scots in the Premiership include Christian Dailly (Blackburn Rovers) Gary Naismith and James McFadden (both Everton , and Liam Miller (Man U).
Welsh players include Robbie Savage (Blackburn), Craig Bellamy (West Ham), and Ryan Giggs (Man U) .
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