England fans: let off some steam here

It hurts. It hurts so much. Humiliation, depression, anger - you name it, we at TheGame feel it. So this is the place to let it all out.

He has been sacked, but tell us where Steve McClaren went wrong. Tell us who you think is ultimately to blame: McClaren? Brian Barwick? The players? Sven Goran-Eriksson?

Vent your spleen and let us know what you'll be doing next summer while the likes of Turkey and Romania are competing in the European Championships.

Maybe you even want to congratulate Croatia and Russia? Nah, didn't think so.

Whatever you want to say, spread yourself out on TheGame's slightly frayed leather couch and indulge in a bit of football therapy.

Just one rule: keep it clean.

Comments

[Sanj Vegad]

I just cannot believe for the life of me how poor England were yesterday. To play 4-5-1 at home says it all about McClaren - he simply hasn't got a clue. Are you telling me the likes of Billic, Klinsmann, Van Basten etc have mastered the game tactically? No they haven't - they are just leaders of men, someone the players look up to and want to play for. McClaren is a good coach as he proved during his time with United. But he is an awful Manager, as he proved during his time with Middlesbrough and England.

When the FA decide to dump McClaren, they need to take a good look at themselves to. Brian Barwick has been the source of all of this. The way the Scolari affair was handled was ridiculous and then to appoint a man who wouldn't even motivate a Sunday League team is even more so.

What's done is done - get the man Shearer in and let him put his leadership skills in place. A new England need new ideas and who better to lead the team than a Geordie lad who actually gave two hoots whenever he put the England jersey on.

Having said this, the players need to take some responsibility as well. Lescott is not up to international standards and Bridge proved why he was loaned out to Fulham. Beckham, Cole and Crouch were the only ones that turned up last night - Gerrard went missing yet again for England and he's the captain! It's a sad day for English football but you can bet your bottom dollar McClaren will be as smug as ever when he walks out of Soho Square today with 2.5m in his sky rocket.

[Putin]

Suckers! With love from Russia!

[AllBell]

COLD HI FROM RUSSIA %))))))

[Paul]

Not a total surprise to be truthful. What bothers me more than anything else is that the England players seem to have lost the hunger to want to win. Croatia, Russia, Macedonia had a greater sense of urgency about their play whereas the England players seem to display that only is spurts during a game. Maybe that's down to arrogance. Being millionaires, on 10-15,000 euros a day, may be partially responsible for this lack of will to win? Players with character and discipline have to replace the 'untouchables'. This lack of success may end up being a good thing in the long run.

[Marius Fratila from Romania]

Why do you say with arogance ”the likes of Turkey and Romania”? It is dangerous and again arogant for you to think that England is a better team than Romania, Turkey, Poland or Russia, but not lucky enough on crucial games or to have o good coach. Keep thinking and acting like this, and you will fail the next campain also...The problem with your national football is not only missing luck or this clown of McClaren, but also the mediocrity of your players...Importing the best players from all over the world and winning the CL with Man United, Liverpool, or maybe Arsenal and Chelsea it doesn't necesarily brings you good at national level...So cry, England, cry!!

[K.Kilpatrick]

He was the luckiest of managers at my club Middlesbrough but even there we had to sit through game after game of the most boring tactless football I have ever seen,I'd say 75-80% of fans were delighted when the "bumbling" F.A. took him off our hands but those fans knew the writing was on the wall for England,and so it proved,The ineptitude of the man is staggering!!

[Kenny Burnett]

Absolutely gutted! After 50 years on this planet, I have to accept the inevitable that, despite the hype, England just can't play football at the international level. This performance was so inept. When is nation going to realise that we are not a major force, and that we have to play second fiddle to the likes of Croatia/Portugal and even Russia, because we will not invest in a good manager who has the heart to build a new team from scratch. McClown has never proven himself as a winning and confident manager, not ever. This leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, and nothing to do next summer. The saddest thing is that the fools at the FA wilkl appoint another chancer on the cheap, and the football will suffer for another four years until that fool provces himself to be the wrong choice. I just cannot see a positive to take away from this.

[PO Lun]

Obviously it must be Sven-Gorans to blame!
He is still in England isn't he,so it must be him.
Really You can try to put the blame on anyone/anything else, but it was simply Your national team that failed.

[Pottsy]

I want to see my national team filled with players who care about playing for their country. I'm sick of watching a clueless bunch of posing prima donnas for whom wearing the white shirt is an annoying inconvenience to their coin chinking day jobs.

[Evgeny]

Both England and Russia do not deserve to qualify. No second ticket should be awarded for this group.

[Muiris Lyons]

1. Poor selection. Blooding a novice international goalkeeper in such a big game was a mistake. McLaren should have stuck with Robinson, publicly. Players need confidence for big games which comes from the manager. McLaren did it before but lost his nerve for this game. Experience counts. Beckham should probably have started. He is at least one player who commits 100% for England. Bridge, Gerrard and Lampard were woeful and the latter two should hang their heads in shame. England were so suspect at the back. The difference Hargreaves would have made sitting in front of the back four? Instead we had Gerrard misplacing virtually every pass and Lampard anonymous (bar the penalty).
2. The pitch. The FA should be answerable for making England play such an important match on such a poor surface. That is not McLaren's fault nor the players. It was astonishing.

[Miha]

Use to it. England national team sucks!

[Barry Russell]

"England will now just go long for the last 10 mins in search of an equaliser" said one commentator!
They did that for 93 mins in my opinion, when will the penny drop that this brand of football does not work at the highest level.
People that eulogized about Rooney's goal in Russia are failing to realise that it came from a hoof up the pitch, followed by an Owen flick on.
I've put Mourinho's name up for the job since he got sacked at Chelsea, all he's ever done is win for crying out loud. The job he did at Porto was amazing, no other manager could of won the UEFA cup followed by the Champions league with a relatively small club in european terms.
If we can't win anything with Jose, then we can't win at all in my view.
He represents our best chance, lets do it FA!

[ilaria]

so sorry guys, after Italy my team is england.

[Paul D. Kay]

I can only hope that the scale of the task facing the English FA collective is now clear, as it is a monumental task that awaits, if we are to starting competing seriously on the world stage.
No excuses - we were second best in every department last night.
Leaderless and rudderless, and only Beckham's introduction gave us the necessary quality down the right.
Gerrard in particular should hang his head in shame - he turned in an appalling performance, when an inspiring, commanding captain's performance was critical. But then I can't remember him ever stepping up to the plate.
Can we please, please consign the Gerrard-Lampard axis to the bin once and for all, where it belongs.
2010, if in fact we make it, is a long, long way away.

[Russian Football Fan]

I'm a Russian Football Fan/
Each of you ask: "How can the Euro 2008 manage whithout England?"
Don't you worry: we will manage whithout England PERFECTLY WELL on the Euro'08 !
I've heard about your officials had already counted all the profits, they will gain from the transldtions and even from selling beer.
Don't be afraid, poor looser English fans!
We are Russians, and WE WILL DRINK ALL YOUR BEER INSTEAD OF YOU on Euro 2008!
Russia is the Champion! English are loosers! Whipe your tears, pink british boys!

[Tim]

My heartfelt sympathy!

A European championship without England isn't the same.

Greetings from Germany

...Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart...

[J.D.]

there is always...cricket?

[Keith Richardson, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire]

it's no suprise that we failed to qualify. we haven't won anything since 1966, in fact we haven't even reached a final. the players always mouthing off how good they are, "best players in the world, we can win it etc etc etc." but in reality they are just a bunch of overpaid losers.

[Antonio bbb]

Oh it hurts? Everyone is to blame, everyone. That Steve McClaren...well who is he? And why are Steven and Lampard your best players, all they do is kick the ball?! The only PLAYER is Joe Cole, he has brain. And oh my, how can one David Beckham be on the bench, jesus! But never mind...

I was just wondering why not to congratulate Croatia and Russia? Didn't we deserve everything we have? Hm...think again!

And what's wrong with Turkey and Romania? You think some of your players are better than Nihat, Emre, Niculae?

This is one big degradation from England to Croatia, Russia, Turkey...and so on.

And winning is also being great when losing.

[Artiom]

dont worry be happy. not the end of the world.

[cratian fan]

England England Aufwiedersehen

[Someone from Germany]

Cheer up! Take it as a opportunity to prepare thoroughly for 2010. Looking forward for an exciting match UK-GER there!

[William Davies]

What a shocking display. Perhaps now the FA, the media and the fans will call for what's clearly needed. Investment in youth centres of excellence.

England were outclassed on every blade of grass last night and unfortunately, as much as anyone might try, that cannot be apportioned to Arsene Wenger, Arsenal or the number of foreigners in the PL.

Wake up England or you'll have nothing to do in the Summer of 2010 as well.

[Bill]

In hindsight, after careful consideration of all the factors contributing to our failure to qualify for the forthcoming European Championships, I've reached the conclusion that we're actually not very good at this football lark.

[Unkdor]

"Tell us where Steve McClaren went wrong. Tell us who you think is ultimately to blame: McClaren? Brian Barwick? The players? Sven Goran-Eriksson?"

Why on earth would anyone blame S-G Eriksson for this failure? He was not there... It's time to lower the expectations on the English national team. They have not delivered since 1966!

[Simon]

1) Lets stop having so many non-English players in the Premier.

2) The players were the ones booting the ball around. Let them accept prime responsibility.

[Michael Murley]

This has - of course - left me devastated. Today is my birthday, and I had expected England to give me the best present of all yesterday, and yet they didn't deliver.

As to the main problem, I think it was letting Steve take over Sven's job. We needed a manager with a completely different insight to change around a few things. Hiring Sven's assistant just left us in the same mess we had been in under Sven's reign. Furthermore, Steve has not really achieved anything, before becoming England manager. Hiring a completely inexperienced manager to do one of the top football-jobs in the world is beyond me!

[VillaYamYam]

Do you think McClaren's tactics for the evening were stored on a government computer disk?

[Oliver]

England has one of the greatest national teams all around the world but, instead of playing an elaborate football and imposing their technical superiority, they look like a second class team when they are in the field. It seems they don't know what to do with the ball! Clearly, it's McLaren's fault. However, there's another big problem: Paul Scholes is 33 years old. David Beckham is 32. Phil Neville is 30. Robbie Fowler is 32. Emile Heskey is 29. Sol Campbell is 33. Gary Neville is 32. England needs a relief. There's a new generation calling. Those players are in the end of their careers and I'm sure it is not easy for a new manager to speak for himself. And last but not least, neither Paul Robinson nor Scott Carson are good enough to be the goalkeepers of the national football team.

Regards.

[Infectious]

At the moment I am in Spain as an English language assistant working in a school. I had no internet access or radio available to listen to the game last night. I had to watch Spain dominate Northern Ireland with 73% possession over 90 minutes having already qualified with ease. If there is anyone in the whole world who doesn´t believe this is a disgrace then they should really think a bit harder. Yes England have never really achieved much as far as international football goes. Isn´t the whole point that this should change? The current crop of players being the spine of many Premiership teams competing at the very highest level in European club competition? I feel sorry for David Beckham. I feel sorry for Terry and Ferdinand and Owen and Rooney who should have been ringing their comrades to congratulate them this morning on doing them a favour, giving them the chance to display their generally undeniable talent in Austria and Switzerland next summer. Considering as this is the only year I´m likely to have more than 10 quid to my name I was planning to go to watch some live football. Now the only chance I have is if I choose to fervently follow the greasy Spanish. (No point being a football fan if you ain´t fervent is there.)

[LISSIAH]

What an utter joke!
It's honestly time to accept that England just aren't that good at sport - particularly football.
We haven't achieved any great victory since '66 - perhaps it's due to players' lazy, wealthy lifestyles. Noone is playing for the love of the game anymore; it's all about money!

Bring back people like Alan Shearer.

[Dave Irving]

Technically inferior players led by a tactically inept manager.

[Bryan]

I'm upset England will not be around this summer, but, Croatia has a long and proud football tradition. I respect their play and feel we don't give that balkan nation the credit they deserve. They play great attacking football, it's acutally a joy to watch. They didn't need to win, but they have pride England needs to find again.

[Gabriel G]

Well perhaps Top Paid Players doesn't mean Top Class Players. Media overrated people creating false expectations. A group with Croatia, Russian, Israel, Andorra ... Perhaps Premier league it is not as good as we though, or perhaps top foreign players make the league as good as it is.

Reflection, auto critic, etc...

[Bernd Helbig]

Go for Klinsmann !

Dear great English football fans.

Don't look back, there is nothing you can do about it anymore.

We Germans had our disaster during the last Euro cup in 2004.
Dramatic changes have been done since than and there have been many people around just laughing about those changes and today ? We are back in the world of football.

Have courage and think out of the box and very soon you will be there where English football belongs to.
I think Klinsmann would be a good choice for you. He knows English football and is a big motivator and has tons of ideas. Why not ?
You have great players but they need leadership and motivation and that's exactly what I believe Mr. Klinsmann can bring to your team.
Heads up and see you latest in
South Africa.
best regards
Bernd

[Stephen Roberts]

It's easy to blame the manager. Sure he was out of his depth from day one and was never the right man but it's the players who are to blame, our so-called superstars. No pride, no passion, given every opportunity to qualify and they squander it. A shocking performance and a disgrace to the country.

[amit dow]

im shockd. i reallly am. the thing about it is that it isnt like any other loss ive felt in football, like the losses to portagul in the last two tournaments. for some reason i feel as england fans we have to just supress are england cheer for a long time until they prove us wrong. I have no intention any more in raving about my england team as i am no longer a proud england supporter.

[Another Russian Fan From Moscow]

England team is a team of perfect names. And if i would say truth, the first 2 positions in our group should be placed by Croatia and England. But sport is sport, and last night Russia won the travel in Switzland. England loose. Why ? I thnik it's a matter of chance. Nothing more.

[Pavel]

"Tell us who you think is ultimately to blame: McClaren? Brian Barwick? The players? Sven Goran-Eriksson?" - Croatian players I think. "Maybe you even want to congratulate Croatia and Russia? Nah, didn't think so." - Why not. Croatian players did much more for Russia yesterday than our own players, so congratulations and thanks a lot.
P.S. Don`t be upset, you`ve lost to the champions, I hope.

[alexander1]

Hello chaps , the reason that your team lost is only in the too much selfconfidence.Players who are winning 100k per week , buying houses , ferrari diamond rings are sure that poor countries will just give up.good lesson for the "stars" of u football .enjoy the euro2008 .
Best Regards

[Steeed]

Why continually overlook quality/technique/class over fitness/energy/desire, the later 3 ingredients do not win you football matches. the first 3 characteristics do you win you matches, and trophies (just look at italy). Our problems started when Sven started playing probably Englands best ever player (Paul Scholes) on the left wing, he retired despite the fact he could have bossed Englands centre midfield for another five years.

Rio, Beckham, J.Cole, A.Cole, Rooney, and JT have class.

As for Gerrard and Lampard, they rarely demand the ball (especially Lamps), and when they do get it they give the bAll away 50% of the time (especially Gerrard)- Scholes puts them both to shame.

[johnny]

Oh no please not again ...

[Nando]

Greetings England !!!
Reading all your comments and absorbing the pain that you all feel, I can only say this. The only way is up, because worse than what you showed the football world, as one of the leading nations, was simply, ROCK BOTTOM !!!! If you think, in your wildest dreams that you stand a chance making it better, for the 2010 World Cup, than first you gotta get there. BUT, HERE IS THE LESSON YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN !!! Footie is not an English game, it is the likes of Croatia, Greece ( Defending Champion ), and other so called small nations, that will now and then, kick some arrogant ass !!!
Even if its English for now. But here is your only chance to get out of your misery !!! Stick to your YOUTH !!! Axe all these Superstar-Foreign Imports, with Russian-paid OIL-Money !!! Let the "little" Beckham's, Shearer's, Terry's, from your Benches, and youth-squads takeover. Remember Germany 3 years ago ? All of you where laughing and making fun how you could kick'em like Beck's could, and they are now one of the most upcoming Sides for the next 6-8 years to come. Who cares about the Champions League, Uefa Cup, and the Premiership Race. GO FOR THE GOLD !!! Go for YOUTH !!! COME ON ENGLAND !!! COME ON AND WAKE UP !!!
PS.: McLaren OUT ! Klinsmann IN !!!

YOU NEVER WALK ALONE,....

Greetings from a still silent , and hurt English fan

[Sins]

I think you should not blame english players. The coach is the one to blame... Because with that type of players (Lampard, Gerrard, Cole, Beckham) you can create a great team. A good cocah would make a much better team...
And you English people are to arrogant. You're always looking down on everyone from east Europe, you're talking in your media about how everything we fulfill is just pure luck. I haven't seen a comment yet about how good Croatia played. And you must addmit that it was a great game...
And your players should stop chaseing money because playing for your country is about pride and joy. And another thing... How can you let a group of 6000 proud Croats be louder than 80 000 English. Haha!

Cheers! Sins from Croatia :)

[Michael]

My condolence! You have excellent team and we lost a lot on EURO-2008. But! My dear fans of English team! I don't want to offend somebody but you have to evaluate your behavior abroad. Why nobody in Europe is deploring yesterday's result? Not because of team - it's excellent. Because of couple of fans. Try to solve it! Best regards.

[Steve in Australia]

Jose Mourinho is the person you need to manage the England team. You need a stronger defence from which to build the attacks and Jose has a proven track record at Chelsea of delivering both a strong defence and the attacking system, so badly lacking in the England side for so long. Also he will bring all his own staff and will not tolerate outside interference.
Regarding the pitch, did you see the Amercian football hash marks on the pitch? Was that match timed with the England football team's best interests at heart? The 'fast winger' tactic adopted by McClaren at the start with Wright-Phillips didn't take into account the state of the pitch, nor the rain.
England fans, the ball is in your court. Lobby for Jose now.

[John Bilsland]

The whole psychology of the set up is wrong. There are too many superstars unchallenged, and too many cushy numbers in the offices. A situation where a goalkeeper loses so much confidence that he cannot play requires investigation.
Is there anyone there to do it ? No.

John

[Jan]

Heads up England! We will miss you at the EURO, honestly! Looking forward to a GER - UK on July 11th in 2010,

a german football fan

[Daniele]

Do not blame the manager; England players are simply very poor
Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney are just good players, not stars, the other players are not only poor but pathetic
Blame also the press, that always think that England is a powerhouse when they did not get even close to win something in the last 41 years
Be humble and hire Lippi or Capello, than you will begin have decent performances
We play a World Cup final every 3 editions and we win it at average every 4/5 editions, we know how to be winners

Cheers

[Dean]

Unfortunately you can not make a silk purse out of a pigs ear. Did we really think that a combination, in any shape or form, of English players had the technical ability and style to win the European Championship. Mclaren should never have got the job, Yes, But I'm afraid Ramsey himself would have trouble winning trophies with the current crop of" Internationals." I believe the Premiership is the best league in the world but it is no thanks to our homebred players. I can count on One Finger the number of English players making a world Eleven! Bring on the next England Manager, God help him!

[Jo]

He should have played Beckham from the start, then we'd never have wasted the three free kicks taken by Gerrard in the first half and the whole dynamic would have been different from the start. The pitch was woeful. How can we spend billions on a brand new stadium and still end up with a crap pitch.

[antonio firicano]

the problem england football team has is same problem england cricket team has. NO PASSION. beckham and pitersen are the only ones that play with full heart.

teams like italiacroatia, brazil, france and australia, pakistan etc play with fire in their bellies, at a good technical level and make sure that fans can be proud. even if they lose it seems the fans at least know that they have tried hardest.

i am sorry to say but this is general characteristic of english people. michael owen and lampard epitimoises this, look at when they lose, how they talk after and then compare to someone like latin teams or irish or polish or pakistani or turkish or something...english even if played disgusting refuse to admit this and this is where they go wrong.

something lacks in english mentality and FA AND CRICKET TOO need to address this. the players have no character!

[konsta]

oh, i´m so sorry for england. What a pitty don´t see them loosing next year!

Hahahahaha! The euro without england,
greetings from germany

[Steve Corbett]

As a life-long follower of the England team, last night was the worst performance - together with the rest of the uninspiring Euro 2008 campaign - I can recall for several years. "Underperformance" is the word that sums up England's recent form. For this the players, to quote Gerrard, should share some of the blame. But ultimately it comes down to the manager. McClarren asked to judge him on all 12 results. We do. Time to go - along with at least some of the crew at FA HQ who should also fall on their swords. The one ray of hope in all of this, is that we now have a window of opportunity to put the right people in place at FA, management and player level for the World Cup qualifiers.

[Johan W]

Stop blaming the PL for the amount of foreign players, that is not the problem. All other leagues have a similar situation more or less. If you look back in history England track record is NOT intimidating for any team playing you. Honestly ONE No 1 spot 41 years ago...a couple of semifinals. Really, how can you look yourselves in the mirror and believe that you are amongst the top world teams?
Our tiny pathetic country has almost the same historical track record apart from the victory. However we have qualified for the 5th consecutive tournament and as you well know have not lost vs England since 1968. Sven delivered and was spat at despite the best results since the 1960s - SO LETS FACE IT!
-YOU ARE NOT BETTER THAN THIS!!!
-YOU HAVE TO GET THE GRIP ON THINGS OR THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN!!
Sorry, we will miss you in the summer...
Sweden the home of the ""boring" Sven...

[Eduardo]

Mourinho.

[Truth Hurts]

No big surprise. The truth is that the so called 'golden generation' of English football are just a bunch of overhyped, overpaid average players. Yeah, we may come up with all sorts of excuses about missing a couple of players but the truth is we just aren't good enough and always looking for scapegoats. Last time it was Sven, next it'll be Mr Wenger for fielding foreign players in his side. Who can blame him, we just don't have the talent.

[spike]

The FA are culpable for giving McClaren a 4 year contract and not having clauses that allow him to be sacked, with no pay-off, if certain performance targets are not met I.E. qualification for major tournaments.

[johan]

I am a Swedish supporter.
My heart goes out to the English supporters. The European Championship will not be the same w/o England.
However, even though some english players are good individually the english team is not top 4 in the world. Not even top 8. Remember how everyone hated even-goran efter bringing england to the quarter finals... Think its good (in the long run) for the team end eupporters to wake up and realize the fact that you should be content with a quarter final.

[Cippo Lippo]

Muahahahah the fathers of football are out of EURO 2008 finals... don't worry about this... next June everybody in front of TV to watch how the other major national teams (Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Spain etc...) play football (Maybe you could learn something)

[simpilmindz]

What do you mean "the likes of Turkey and Romania"? Are they not supposed to be there simply because England failed to qualify?
This betrays the great English weaknesses - smugness and a false sense of superiority.
Wake up, England. The world has moved on and you no longer tell Johnny Foreigner what to so. And even if you did it wouldn't matter, 'cause he ain't listening.
The so-called "golden generation" were always overrated and overpaid. Now they're just over the hill.

[Mr Eriksson]

Don't you miss me now?! Maybe now you will all realize that England is not better than this.

[Danika Faber]

I comment this because somebody mentioned Romania witch is my parents country.You know what happend in Romania?Well like 8 years about they lost to quallifed at the World Cup in Japan.For some years they didn't do anything but after they saw that they are loosing money the Federation start to change.A new team in charge of the federation ready to put national team's interest above club interests,a more drastic politic against corruption in football and a manager that was strong enough to tell to the superstars in the national team that if they do not behave how he says they will loose their place in the team.A manager that eradicated all the interest groups around the team. I think that needs England also: strong management, national interest above club one's(most players in the England national team were from Chelsea and, except Lampard, they are not even there regulars, that something to think).I will not like to see that England will waite too much to change something, I will lose their presence at a final cup.Btw at the last official game between Romania and England, Romania bet England.

[Clive Britcher]

You can blame who you like, but the England side played like headless chickens, so they deserved to lose. The defence was appalling, the midfield had no idea what to do with the ball. Same old brainless English football; whack the ball up the field and see if it lands on someone's head. Where's the passing game? Where's the fluency?

[Mike]

A country gets the football team it deserves. The commitment and the will to win has departed from England. You can't blame it on the high club salaries -- foreign players are paid just as much but that doesn't stop them outclassing our own in every department. You won't cure England's team performance until the fans make clear their displeasure to the individual England players -- every week.

[Beast from the East]

The end is just result for the English FA in hiring a manager I don't even want taking charge of the Malaysian national team.

[M Bhaker]

Right this is where it went wrong

The team should of been, for a big pressure match full of experienced players, who by the way were all sitting on the bench

James (Experienced & playing well)
Brown (Playing regularly champ lge with Man U)
Micha Richards (Good player)
Sol Cambell (Experienced & playing well)
Phil Neveille (Experienced & playing Reg)

Barry (Confidence Up)
Hargreaves (Experienced)
Beckham (Experienced)
Cole (Experienced)

Gerrard (Supporting forward)
Crouch (Experienced)

How can you play guys with little experince or 1 or 2 caps? Who the hell is Lescott and when did Barry last get a game. Doesn't everyone know Gerrard and Lampard can't play together.

Incompetence.

[Boris]

Yesterday was the best day in all my life!!!
Good bye England!!!
Thank you,
FROM RUSSIA!!!

[Panos]

Good bye Vienna, goodbye Geneva. I hope you have a comfortable couch in your living-rooms...

[Gooner]

Barwick and Thompson should have sacked themselves and all the other useless gimps at the FA rather than blaming the manager as usual and pretending that getting a new one in will change anything.

The problem with the English national game is the whole system, not managers, foreigners or anything else.

[Ivan from Zagreb]

http://dnevnik.hr/bin/article.php?article_id=31103&show_media=84185

this is how you play & live for your country. the fans welcomed our players in 3 in the morning, and Srna & other players chanted with them for an hour.

england - live & learn, respect other teams, and give the job to a decent manager

[white boy]

people, england team play for money they play for glory not for englan whith hart and that is problem, croatian guys play whith hart all 90 minutes and for that they win macth and they deserv.

[swiss]

croatia played perfect! congrats to this national team!

[munichman]

Can't believe you blew it. You got away 2006 in Germany, but i hoped we'll meet in 2008. Still got you on the list for the 1:5 some time ago...
To be honest: Germany was laughing last night as you screwed it, but this morning we realised that it will NOT be the same without you lot (Team & supporters).I lived some 5 years in your country, during this time i learned to respect your art of football. In my eyes there's only 2 ways out of this. 1. Get your decent english game back, bring it to a new level -- Get Jose. 2. Change your gameplay, adapt to international modern football. -- Borrow Klinsmann for 1 year. (He turned the whole german Football Association upside down. If he is in charge he does not accept anything else but his own way. This got us a new team which is going to deliver sooner or later, promise!)Let's face it, the only international games with heart attack character are against england, holland or italy. So Heads up, we'll meet 2010. Remember the qualifying starts soon.

[Joe]

This defeat is a very good example of how over-rated (and over-paid) our players are. McClaren is not the best but managers can only prepare you and make necessary alteration for the game, if the players don’t perform on the night then no matter
what great tactics you employ the result will still be the same.

Wake up. You didn't lose the game because of the tactics. Croatia simply a better team last night!

[Marquis]

Delusion is a misarable example !
With a jaded bunch of overpaid so-called football-players nobody can`t expect a spirited and hungry attitude.
A very sad portrait and yet another blow for a young generation whom needs characters to look up for.
Where is the consciousness of a sportsmanship ?
Desperation as the english way ?
The future starts today.
Good luck-England and don`t forget,
you never walk alone !

[Derek]

Ohhhhh...it was just SO inevitable that it would all go wrong. The rain, the pitch, the injuries, the underlying smugness from all at the FA after Israel had done us a favour, and as for Croatia saying beforehand that they would be going for a win, well we didn't believe that did we? Croats, Poles, Italians, Romanians, even Scots, players who just get their heads down and get on with it and show to their fans that they are trying their best and doing all they can for their country on the pitch. Yes it's McClaren's fault, but mainly it boils down to the players at his disposal - not enough hunger in their bellies, the younger members had no one (apart from Becks) to look up to last night when things got tough. I would love to know what was said between Barwick and Prince William during the game as they sat together watching it all unravel before them.
England are out, so us English fan's need to think about following another no hope team at the tournament next Summer - I suppose Austria fit the bill nicely.

[TJ]

Full house at Wembley, electric atmosphere, the hopes of a nation resting on one result: was it really an occasion for five in midfield and a rookie 'keeper? Barry sunk into anonymity as his midfield foil Gerrard attempted to play every position on the pitch, insisting on aiming every ball at Peter Crouch's willing head. His counterpart, Lampard, pursued a similar tactic but instead inexplicably targeted his aerial bombardment at the diminutive Wright-Phillips. The latter should perhaps take flying lessons from Jermaine Defoe, whose prat-fall earned England an undeserved but welcome glimmer of hope. Beckham did inject urgency and it was a terrific first-time ball that made way for Crouch's cultured finish. However, by this time the shape and formation had degraded almost as much as the Wembley turf. The game culminated with Lescott,Gerrard and Campbell, seemingly confused by the clearly visible American Football markings, reverting to 'hail mary' and launching 50-yard touchdown passes into the end-zone.

Whilst McClaren is deservedly the 'first down' this morning, the remainder of his motley crew will surely be the next to be 'sacked'.

[Swedish fan..]

It all comes down to arrogance.. Yes, England have quality players, but they keep underestimating their opposition.. And more importantly, overestimating their own quality. As Alan Hansen said during the pre-match analysis, "I think England will win comfortably".. Why? Because the only Croatian player you've heard of is called Da Silva, and he's not a starting player for Arsenal?

It's time England (and I mean the players and the fans) to take a good look at themselves.. And don't blame foreigners in the PL for England's underachievements.. Spain and Italy don't seem to suffer, and they've got plenty of foreigners in their respective leagues.. Germany is even a better example, where their only "superstar" player, Ballack, has been out injured. Do you rate Klose, Borowski, Metzelder, Lahm equal to Rooney, Lampard, Terry and Cole? Nobody does, but yet Germany had little difficulty in reaching the Euro..

The only positive thing I can see from this, is that this will be the first summer tournament where I won't be bombarded with images from 1966 in every newspaper and television.. It's time you move on..

[Alan Budd]

So the "golden era" has produced nothing. These so-called world class palyers are just not up to the mark. The FA don't care as the money from TV just keeps rolling in, they have no incentive to produce an international success.

Changing the manager (although he was useless) will make no difference. The FA need to design a structure for English football that will produce international success. Look what the Rugby boys have done, winners and finalists, and yet they are not satisfied and are putting through more change to bring more success.

Sack the FA!

[Aussie]

England, I hopnelty don't know what to say. As an Australian who watched our national team beat Croatia in the last World Cup and took eventual winners Italy all the way to a last minute penalty I can only say this: You are all pathetic. From the supporters, to the media, to the players and the manager. In Australia we love our sport and our sporting heroes are treated well - an in turn they produce results because they enjoy playing for their country. How can you blame the players for not putting in 100% when the 'fans' and media call for their heads after (and often during) every single match. I've also been following Scotland recently and they are a much better TEAM (not individual) than England.
Until the players really want to play for their country, you'll have no hope of lifting a mojor trophy. And might I add the ONE trophy you did win was on home soil so don't get too cocky about that little result either.

[This is your wake up call]

Oh my, oh my. What a dreadful performance. But then again, who ever said England would qualify when they haven't done a thing right in any tournament since 1966? And no, neither Scolari nor Mourinho could have made all the stray passes and loose balls from Crouch fall to Gerrard's miracle working predator boots. Players take responsibility for this useless performance.
The arrongant context in which you mentioned Turkey and Romania above says it all; England think they are better than any and everyone else - but they are very wrong.
The English LEAGUE is the best in the world, but this is because of incredible foreign imports such as Cantona, Henry, Ronaldo, Fabregas, Drogba and also closer-to-home Welshman Giggs. Very few Englishmen actually aid this - Rooney, the Coles, Terry, Gerrard (who seems to have been tranquilised yesterday).
There are no good English replacements for the national team - and the media treats people who could step up there like crap - Crouch (before he won everyone over), Hargreaves (before he won everyone over), Bent, Defoe, Bentley, Foster,Green, Johnson. When Rooney, Ferdinand, Terry, A. Cole,etc are of form or absent, England play pub football. New players must be welcomed, not derided by the media. Of course Lescott would be nervous in this match then; of course Carson would panic at the prospect of a wet ball when the journalists are sharpening their wit in the boxes above!
In an excellent example of a national team England would mistakenly feel superior to, Ghana played with a collection of the finest stars (Abedi Pele, Yeboah, Sammy Kuffour) for most of the late 90s and failed miserably. In the 21st century, a TEAM was built out of unknowns (Appiah, J. Mensah, Essien), qualified and beat expectations at the world cup. England would learn form this and not select the national team based on annual salaries, but on who fits best in the team.

[philip bell - cheshire]

Maybe a small point or is it? Why do our overrated, overpaid footballers never sing the national anthem unlike the rugby guys? It shows they dont seem bothered and a lack of respect for all watching and singing with more pride then they have ever shown. Last night a small boy ball was singing more than the players, maybe he should play in the next game or better still give him a 4 year contract to be next manager.

[Rumek]

I'm so sorry.... Great competition without Big stars from England ?? HAHAHa I was waiting for suprise :)
It's so awsome that England won't play :)

greetings from rest of Europe

[bad-play-fellow-sufferer from Russia]

With such bad play England ought not to be so self-confident. You would have gone to Euro 2008, if England hadn't forgotten to stimulate Andorra as Israel.

[What do I know........]

Totally agree with a previous comment that England need an inspirational manager rather than a grey gutless middle-management drone.

Croatia were great last night and - as was evident England were poor - but worst of all was seeing the negative body language and 100% no passion from the bench from SM. Quite a contrast from the Croatian management.

Just a thought - why *was* SM looking so glum when the worst thing that could happen to him (whatever the result) was a 2.5M UKP cheque in the post the very next day?

[Sasa]

I am reading these comments and I cant believe,that You,all English funs with a one single word cannot admit that Croatia is in this moment better team and that we played honest.
I wish to team England better luck ( better quality ) in next WC qualifications.

[Ilja]

Thank you William Davies for saying it. Foreigners are NOT to blame for this.
Invest in youth academies that school the kids technically and mentally.
That way, you will get humble kids with class that one Arsene Wenger would be glad to employ - not some overhyped Lampards or Gerrards who hide on the pitch when it matters but fight like lions when it's about earning more per week than their fellow teammates.

[Perce]

McClaren was prepared to accept responsibility for failure, just as long as he didn`t have to forgo the final payout.
If he had any honour he`d acknowledge that he`s the man to blame and walk away, taking Barwick with him.
The players were abject, but he picked them, he organised them ( I use the expression loosely), and we`re best rid of him.

Maybe, just maybe we can see in this outcome the result of English clubs' obsession with foreign players...

[Viktor]

Been reading comments and reviews now all day. English football is of great interrest to all Swedes and I guess we are all gloating when reading the facts that your new, improved, manager got sacked after a year...

I still fail to see what Sven did wrong when he wass boss. Didn't you loose two of the q-finals on penalties? Surely you can't ask of Sven to take one?

Time for little brittain to take "England's got talent" to the football scene and find new idols.

[Torero]

Have you thought of granting british nationality to Fernando Torres, Reina, Xabi Alonso, Morientes, and other spanish players, and join them in your England´s team?
We can lend you Raul and Luis aragonés too.

Bad luck, better next time.

[seth taylor]

I'll do the job for 2.5 thousand! AND I'LL WIN SOMETHING!!!!

[henk Lamers]

This disaster for English soccer was predictable. Teams performing so well in Europe (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United) forget to invest in the soccer youth because buying overseas (p.e.Barcelona) is much easier.How many english goalies have these 4 clubs? Don't close your eyes : the famous english soccer of yesteryear isn't played anymore.

[david]

Damn...as a a supporter of the "Mannschaft" I must admit that the European Championship is just not going be the same without the English!

[luis koldo]

England get over it and come to terms, you do not have the quality. You could not beat Macedonia ( just one example). Karma as well, always so arrogant about football, o.k. you invented it, but it does not mean you can play it. Now come down of the cross, we can use the wood.

[Johnson]

Goodbye McClaren. We didn't qualify because we weren't good enough. Nearly all England players are vastly over-rated, Gerrard, Lampard, Terry, Ferdinand, Owen and Rooney are not world class footballers. Beckham was the best of his generation, and even he wasn't truly world class. Carson should never have been put in goal. The group table reflects the best teams and congratulations to Russia and Croatia.
But where do we go from here? McClaren was a disastrous appointment, many of us felt that from day one - and said so. No track record of inspiring people, no obvious technical know-how - made repeated mistakes in selection and tactics.
We have no divine right to play in the major tournaments, but if the players were half as good as they think they are, we would have qualified.
We appear to have two options for a new boss, one is to appoint a character like Mourinho or O'Neill, someone with a strong personality who can get the best out of our average players and at least give them some confidence - but in doing so we should accept that qualification is as much as we can hope for, because we will lack the technical ability to really compete at the very highest levels - above the QF. The second way would be to take a longer term view with a character like Wenger - someone who polishes and nurtures talent. I'm not sure he'd find much in the English leagues that he can choose from, but he has been able to mould teams to his vision of how football should be played consistently over the years with some success. Wenger won't want the job, but maybe there are other managers who share his characteristics.

[William]

If he wasn't dead, I'd suggest Uday Hussein as the next England manager. When Iraq lost, the players didn't go back to their multimillion pound houses, they got a drill through the kneecap.

[FraseM]

The patronising tone when mentioning the likes of Turkey and Romania is symptomatic of an in- built and deeply misplaced sense of where people in England think their team is in world terms. The bottom line is that your good players, who invariably play for the top clubs, obviously no longer consider playing for their country to be the pinnacle of their careers and your average players, many of which were on show last night, just do not cut it against the top countries in world football - in essence, a recipe for long lasting disappointment.