England 2-3 Croatia

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:31 am

England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 after losing a sensational game against Croatia at Wembley.

England went 2-0 down when Scott Carson, in for Paul Robinson, helped Nico Kranjcar's shot into the net and then Ivica Olic slipped in a second.

Frank Lampard pulled one back from the spot after Jermain Defoe was fouled, before David Beckham, winning a 99th cap, set up Peter Crouch to level it.

But Mladen Petric fired in from 25 yards to break England's hearts.

The result will surely cost Steve McClaren his job as England manager and after such an abysmal display, he can have few complaints.

He gambled his position and England's participation on two huge selections and dropping Robinson and Beckham proved catastrophic.

Carson's performance will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons and it may take the 22-year-old some time to recover.

When he stepped out onto the turf to warm-up and saw heavy rain making the pitch increasingly treacherous, he could have been forgiven for wishing Robinson - who was not even on the bench - had not been so unceremoniously dumped.

With eight minutes gone, he must have wanted part of the rain-sodden pitch to open up and swallow him whole.

Kranjcar found space 30 yards out and let fly with a dipping right-foot shot that bounced just in front of the keeper and Carson could only help the ball into the roof of the net.

The stadium fell silent - and six minutes later, England's world was on the brink of collapse.

Eduardo drove at the heart of the England defence and played a cute pass into the area for Olic, the Hamburg striker coolly dribbling round a shell-shocked Carson and rolling into an empty net.

England embarrassingly appealed for offside, but Wayne Bridge and, ludicrously, Wright-Phillips were both clearly playing him on.

McClaren's 4-3-3 formation had turned into a 4-5-1 as Peter Crouch was left painfully isolated in attack and his flick-ons were easily dealt with by the Croatians.

The visitors could have been more than 2-0 up by the interval - Carson patting the ball down after a shot from Luka Modric only for the ball to luckily force Kranjcar too wide to shoot.

Booed and jeered off the pitch, McClaren had to act and he brought on Jermain Defoe and Beckham for his 99th cap, with Barry and Wright-Phillips making way.

It barely made any difference, before England were handed a penalty by the eagle-eyed assistant referee who spotted Josip Simunic tugging back Defoe.

Lampard, with almost his first kick of the game, clinically dispatched the spot-kick to breathe new life into England's campaign.

England seemed keen to gift Croatia another goal as first Bridge cleared onto his own crossbar and then Carson repaired some of the damage by brilliantly saving Olic's point-blank header.

If the script had been written for Beckham to save his country once again, the former captain seemed keen to follow it.

The LA Galaxy midfielder sent over an inch-perfect cross from the right that Crouch expertly chested down and smashed into the bottom corner from seven yards.

Wembley erupted, but there was more drama to come on a remarkable night at the new stadium.

Croatia sent on Petric and with 13 minutes left, he arrowed a fizzing left-foot shot into the corner of Carson's net from 25 yards.

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:32 am

Total disgrace!

McClaren has no idea, his formation from the start was baffeling!

Goodbye McClaren & good ridance!

King Ledley · Post by **King Ledley** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:33 am

Howler by carsen, TAXI FOR MCLAREN

Željko Jurin · Post by **Željko Jurin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:39 am

Keeper didnt lose it for you, because you were handed one of the softest penalties to cancel it out.

England lucky it wasnt 5 or 6 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TDGv2 · Post by **TDGv2** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:45 am

Goals conceeded by Carson in 1 qualification game = 3

Goals conceeded by Robinson in remaining qualification games = 4

Any english fan who still doesn't rate Robinson can now please foad.

barbarez01 · Post by **barbarez01** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:46 am

AUSSIE GOOSE!

El Pibe D'Oro · Post by **El Pibe D'Oro** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:08 am

Croatia were not given the respect they deserved by the English players or press - they are a good, disciplined side with flair and speed.

They will do damage at the Championships next year.

As for England - Bridge, SWP, Richards, Carson world class???? I think not, well not yet anyway - they look good for their clubs because of the foreigners.

England are fooling themselves when it comes to international football and this proves it.

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:17 am

England have plenty of talent & worldclass players. They just don't have a worldclass manager & that is what it boils down too!!!!!

barbarez01 · Post by **barbarez01** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:18 am

Scudetto8687 wrote:Croatia will do damage at the Championships next year.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:21 am

Scudetto8687 wrote:England are fooling themselves when it comes to international football and this proves it.

England are fooling themselves when it comes to football.

Maybe the British Govt could organise a fleet and colonise another country, it's about the only hope they've got of finding a half decent footballer.

El Pibe D'Oro · Post by **El Pibe D'Oro** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:24 am

strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players. They just don't have a worldclass manager & that is what it boils down too!!!!!

How do you define world class? They havent made the final of a tournament in 40 years - how can they have world class players?

Only Gerrard, Rooney & Terry are truly world class.

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:32 am

Scudetto8687 wrote:
strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players. They just don't have a worldclass manager & that is what it boils down too!!!!!
How do you define world class? They havent made the final of a tournament in 40 years - how can they have world class players?

Only Gerrard, Rooney & Terry are truly world class.

There has been a number of worldclass players to have never made a final of a tournament!!!

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:34 am

strappineastie wrote: There has been a number of worldclass players to have never made a final of a tournament!!!

but none of them ever played for England

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:35 am

97 wrote:
strappineastie wrote: There has been a number of worldclass players to have never made a final of a tournament!!!
but none of them ever played for England

& your point is?

El Pibe D'Oro · Post by **El Pibe D'Oro** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:41 am

Scudetto8687 wrote:
strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players. They just don't have a worldclass manager & that is what it boils down too!!!!![/quote]

How do you define world class? They havent made the final of a tournament in 40 years - how can they have world class players?

Only Gerrard, Rooney & Terry are truly world class.

[/quote]

If they had plenty of world class players and talent they wouldnt have any problems qualifying. They are obviously short somewhere - again ill remind you they have not made the final of any major tournament for over 40 years.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:43 am

strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players.

My point is the above statement is false. England never have never will.

The poms brag about how good they are at football without any substance to back it up. Would hate to hear how much they'd harp on if they had the record of Germany, Italy or France.

Hoof it long son

BillShankly · Post by **BillShankly** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:52 am

is there any sport england is good at?

Azz · Post by **Azz** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:58 am

BillShankly wrote:is there any sport england is good at?

darts?

Hillsfootball · Post by **Hillsfootball** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:04 am

With England not making it to the Euro 2008 finals, it will be difficult to find any football news in the local media during the tournament next year.
It will be like other football countries do not exists.
However, it is sad for England not to qualify, the tournament will miss a good team.

Black Legion · Post by **Black Legion** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:10 am

Should have been 5 - 1

England weren't terrible, the Croats were just too classy all over the park.
Controversial penalty gave England a lifeline.

2 - 0 in Croatia now 3 - 2 at Wembley.....Croatia should surely consolidate itself as a Top 10 Football Nation.

England way over rated.

U boj.... U boj....Za narod svoj!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BADA BING · Post by **BADA BING** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:11 am

Its not sad that England didn't qualify its pathetic, they promise so much but constantly deliver SWEET F%^& ALLS

Ray Parlour · Post by **Ray Parlour** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:13 am

common guys its clearly arsenal's fault that england didnt qualify

Željko Jurin · Post by **Željko Jurin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:15 am

BADA BING wrote:Its not sad that England didn't qualify its pathetic, they promise so much but constantly deliver SWEET F%^& ALLS

What have they promised for the last 40 years again ????? SWEET F%^&ALL

Another good thing game out of this, the Austrian and Swiss Police will be breathing a BIG sigh of relief !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

diegom · Post by **diegom** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:19 am

Sucked in Engerland!

Hosovac · Post by **Hosovac** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:24 am

Zovi, samo zovi!

World Clarsh footballing nation taken to the cleaners in their own backyard!

Since when is feeling a tug on your shirt, and going down in a heap in the penalty area when you're no chance of getting near the ball a penalty? FFS!

Carson made up for his blunder with his point blank save from Olic's header.

Fair result on balance of play and chances would have been 4 or 5.1 I reckon.

Poms were missing some talent, but faaaark me they are shiiite!

Volim te Hrvatskoooooooooooooooooooo!

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:26 am

97 wrote:
strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players.
My point is the above statement is false. England never have never will.

The poms brag about how good they are at football without any substance to back it up. Would hate to hear how much they'd harp on if they had the record of Germany, Italy or France.

Hoof it long son

I don't think it's the players, i think it's the management!

Filikis Eterias · Post by **Filikis Eterias** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:29 am

England ha ha ha. Gotta love it. No English thugs to ruin EURO 2008.
Before people jump up & down about Italian fans just remember when abroad they are fantastically behaved.

Željko Jurin · Post by **Željko Jurin** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:31 am

strappineastie wrote:
97 wrote:
strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players.
My point is the above statement is false. England never have never will.

The poms brag about how good they are at football without any substance to back it up. Would hate to hear how much they'd harp on if they had the record of Germany, Italy or France.

Hoof it long son
I don't think it's the players, i think it's the management!

So they've had shite coaches (managers) for the last 40 years have they

Stop making excuses, your players are NOT good enough, and wont be for a very LONG time

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:32 am

gremio wrote:England ha ha ha. Gotta love it. No English thugs to ruin EURO 2008.
Before people jump up & down about Italian fans just remember when abroad they are fantastically behaved.

Yeah cause they know they would get their heads smashed in!

King Of East · Post by **King Of East** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 10:36 am

Zeljko Jurin wrote:
strappineastie wrote:
97 wrote:
strappineastie wrote:England have plenty of talent & worldclass players.
My point is the above statement is false. England never have never will.

The poms brag about how good they are at football without any substance to back it up. Would hate to hear how much they'd harp on if they had the record of Germany, Italy or France.

Hoof it long son
I don't think it's the players, i think it's the management!
So they've had shite coaches (managers) for the last 40 years have they

Stop making excuses, your players are NOT good enough, and wont be for a very LONG time

I'm not talking about the last 40 years! I am talking about our current management ya knob!!!