McClaren carries the can - but is he to blame?
The dawning horror that England might not qualify for another major international tournament became shockingly real with England's failure to reach Euro 2008.
The Wembley defeat to Croatia meant that England’s Euro campaign will be over before it’s begun. And with it Steve McClaren’s job. The cruel irony is that, while football is always more than just one game and one man, the man in the suit on the sidelines must ultimately carry the can. So where did it all go wrong?
Where do YOU think it went wrong for England? Have your say on the forum
Here are Virgin Media’s real reasons why the wheels came off:
The Premiership. The Premiership. Too many foreign players in the Premiership first teams. The more top foreign talent we import, the fewer English players can come through: “The national team has to be under threat - the numbers show that. I don't think you can underestimate it. It’s a major concern,” says Sir Trevor Brooking.
Tactics. Slow burn build ups with wafty long balls in are out of vogue in the modern game. The Russians’ snappy play left England baffled.
Goalkeepers. Why did McClaren persist with Robinson when it was clear he was out of form? Perhaps because he knew the next best with international experience was David James, brilliant one day, prone to inexplicable errors of judgement the next.
Beckham. A great crosser, but these days he’s off the pace and not a great tackling force. And it highlights the manager’s desperation when he must rely on an aging no.7 at set-pieces to find goals. And getting him to 100 caps isn’t enough to warrant selection.
Injuries. Critical players (Ashley Cole, Wayne Bridge, Wayne Rooney) have been crocked at critical times, but the manager’s playboard allows for little flexibility, so replacements often have to play without team experience – Emile Heskey is a case in point.
The FA. First Sven, now McClaren – the board must carry some responsibility for their choices. Their next appointment MUST be of a higher calibre.
The Premiership (again). Too many cups, too many matches, too many tired and injured players.
The players. They’re the best of the best, so why do so many club superstars mis-fire when they pull on the three lions?
Where do YOU think it went wrong for England? Have your say on the forum
Don’t forget, you can see FREE Premiership and League highlights here
Rewind: watch England v Russia in pics
Who will fill McClaren's shoes? Click here for our recommendations
14th November 2007
