England Croatia

[snorky]

England were shite. Im sorry, but even my jaundiced viewpoint has some resonance here.

I dont really take that much pleasure from this - I only really get the hump When England do well at Scotlands expense/ detriment.

BTW, if the home internationals are resurrcted, Scotland & the Non Irons would stuff England judging the tonights match

[MrBen]

They were shocking! I won't do my country a disservice by resorting to low level anti english sentiments but its better to fail with great passion and guts than pathetically.

I can't believe McLaren says he will stay on - I am certain he will be gone by 5pm tomorrow. The poor guy is copping it already but nobody is saying anything about the players who were crap. Blame them. And be graceful in defeat.

Why cant England just accept they were not good enough plain and simple? They always need someone to blame and the media down here pile on so much pressure....

Bring back the Rous Cup - I reckon we would take them home or away at the moment.

Overall though I'm a disappointed that no British team is in the finals - they will be the worse for it.

[TillieTrotter]

Two Scots posting....Quelle supris!

Have to say that was a shameful performance and the Croatians deserved their victory.:(

[SeanMacGabhann]

I have to echo the sentiments here - especially MrBen's about the players. McClaren never was the man for the job and he made some bad choices for last night's game but even then these players should be miles better

They showed some of that in the second half and then resorted to being shite

Besides all that, it shouldn't be about last night's game -the whole qualification was dreadful. No goals against Macedonia? You don't need a manager to do better than that. And to listen to all the dreadfully inane interviews before every game:

"yeah the lads and me know we've been let fans down in the last few games but we're really up for this one" etc etc

Show us then!

[atila the gooner]

England were 2nd rate 2nd best and not deserving of a result. Perhaps this will sound the death knell for McLarens reign as manager (please god). Having said that our problem lies much deeper than that. Until we start coaching kids to play football the way they coach kids on the continent, we will lag behind the rest of the footballing world by some distance!!! See my comments on the Football Focus thread about this subject.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I've heard a lot of debate about the game on radio and many people have made good points - but many others have been just daft

A recurring theme is "we are English, we should be playing 4-4-2, not any of this fancy stuff"

The whole point about the Beckhams, Gerrards, Lampards et al playing so well in their leagues is that they DO play the fancy stuff and raise their game with a proper coach and skilled (probbaly foreign) teammates - ie foreign players BENIFT English players

Left to their own devices what do we get - hoof the ball 40 yards to the big man. Repeat ad nauseaum?

And if those big players can't raise their game (and they definitely can't) then the next step down are even worse. Wayne Bridge?? I ask you...

There was a moment in the match when the England fans were booing the Croation team who were passing the ball around the back in their own half - and that summed it up for me. Booing a team who keep posession whilst looking for a play instead of lumping it up the field. England won't come within sniffing distance of a trophy with that attitude...

[mockney piers]

Yep, some pretty poor management decisions. He's a decent chap, of that there is no doubt, but if you can't motivate players for that?!?!

I saw the pre-match interview and felt we were going to lose then, not of a hint of inspiration, just a nervous man trotting out tired cliches.

5 minutes of SWP slop through the mud before falling over at the foot of one of the tallest strongest defences in football, had even me crying out for Beckham. Lampard and Gerrard, rubbish; Barry, poor game. I feel desperately for Carson, but again, weird decision.

Players apart though, the blame has to fall with the FA. Never mind whether Maclaren goes, sack the cobwebbed shirts in Soho Sq!!!

And go spain!! B)

[SeanMacGabhann]

Yes well done to Spain - although a part of me was hoping the little guy (Norn Iron) would have a miracle bestowed on them

Of the "home nations", only they and Scotland can hold their heads up

For the tournament next summer I shall be finding out which are the proper Spanish and French bars etc and go and support their teams with their supporters

[citizenED]

The phrase Dead Man Walking springs to mind

[blinder999]

In a nation that plays less and less competitive sport at school, and where kids in general are getting fatter and fatter year on year, this situation is not going to improve, no matter what poor sap they employ as manager to take the blame.

How big is the playground going to be at the new Academy did they say? Oh yes, there will be no playground. Genius.

[Fear 'n boozin]

didn't see that coming.

[Ladygooner]

He has gone

[fractionater]

Just goes to show how over-hyped English football really is!

They are a bunch of overpaid t055ers - built up by the media!

[Ladygooner]

The media are quoting Mourinho or O'Neill to be next in the job..........

[James]

Compare the football players with the rugby players. One is a bunch of overpaid loutish underachieving chavs, the other earn a fraction of the amount yet manage to behave themselves off the pitch and perform brilliantly on it. Our national rugby team put the footballers to shame.

[snorky]

Shearer has been ( semi privately ) broadcasting his availability for some kind of role in the new set up.

[Fear 'n boozin]

yay, that would work well wouldn't it. go go go super al. what a wanker.

[macroban]

Look on the bright side.

Some good has come out of this.

[snorky]

was a fantastic player at his peak, but was integral to starting & maintaining the rot at NUFC that started when King Kev walked out

[Fear 'n boozin]

what's going to happen to all the flags!

exactly snorky. don't think he has much between the ears bar self love. maybe biased, hate his anaylis.

[snorky]

English flag manugfacturers face lean summer

English pubs face lean summer

Roast beef sellers face lean summer

etc etc etc

[MrBen]

On the plus side I'm now looking forward to a quiet summer. No draping dirty flags out of windows, large bald blokes chanting that En-ger-land En-ger-land chant and the ability to attend music festivals without worry about a clash with the portugal match.

England are at a regeneration point and will be back in it again before long. Perhaps this was what was needed. All eyes shift to Sundays world cup draw in Durban....

[snorky]

England are pot 2 now

just like the Scots!

11th in world vs 13th according to latest reckonings

[jimbo1964]

Literally gone 2 pot.

[spadetownboy]

>:D:D