Go on then: England vs Croatia

[EST_1892]

They said it on five live.

I would have believed Tribal Football more mate.

[AFII]

No they didn't AFII, **** me if I'm ever in court I hope you're not an eye witness

Yes they did.

They said that Capello said that he would take the job if they offered him it. They said that he had said it on Italian television.

[Shaggy]

stolen from football365

How the England players fared against Croatia...

Scott Carson
Redeemed himself partially with a save that hit him smack in the face but will forever be remembered for the ghastly mistake that handed Croatia an early lead. Alas, Carson hadn't even handled the ball when the Croats scored their second.

Will probably never play for his country again. England's problems don't end with their goalkeepers but they certainly start there.
Rating (out of ten): Four.


Micah Richards
Caught upfield for the Croats second goal having granted Krancjar an unhindered shot on goal six minutes earlier. Rash and raw, he ran around like a headless chicken at times and failed to make a meaningful contribution as a result.
Rating: Five.


Sol Campbell
It may be harsh to single out Campbell but he is the personification of everything that is wrong with English football. Sol is a superb defender and a committed professional but his regular inability to pass a ball accurately over ten yards is as appalling as it is damning.
Rating: Five.


Joleon Lescott
Reasonably solid. The Everton defender was far from being England's worst player although the likelihood remains that he is short of international class. Then again, that's the least of England's worries now.
Rating: Four.


Wayne Bridge
Errors too many to record on a single sheet of A4. An ordinary player who would not stand out in the Championship.

His international retirement would be a welcome fillip from an otherwise dispiriting evening.
Rating: Two.


Gareth Barry
Failed to exert himself, wasted every set-piece he was allowed to take and was replaced at half-time.
Rating: Four


Frank Lampard
The decision to hand Lampard the man-of-the-match award was the only good laugh all evening. Until his penalty conversion it was possible to believe that Lampard was either not on the pitch or unaware that a match was being played.

It is simply unfathomable that such a brilliant player at club level shrinks so radically when on international duty. Combines time and time again with Didier Drogba for Chelski yet seemed unwilling to support Peter Crouch and too many decent flick-ons thus went to waste. Indefensible.
Rating: Three


Steven Gerrard
The best that can be said of Gerrard is that, unlike Lampard, he attempted to exert himself.

Succumbed to the Hollywood role in the second-half, attempting to hit 50-yard eye-of-the-needle passes on an evening when simplicity was essential. Until England realise that possession is nine-tenths of international level they will forever remain second-rate. The contrast with the display of Luka Modric was telling.
Rating: Three


Shaun-Wright Phillips
A ghastly attempt to play Ivica Olic offside backfired spectacularly and then, moments later, spurned a great opportunity to score by taking an unnecessary additional touch. No wonder even his father admitted he shouldn't have played.

Failed to make an impact thereafter and was replaced at half-time. Another player who is bereft of international quality.
Rating: Four


Joe Cole
A typical Cole performance: the odd glimpse of class negated by poor decision-making and a tendency to hit the ground faster than a bomb dropped from Mars.
Rating: Four.


Peter Crouch
The only England player to emerge in credit. Excellent at holding the ball up, while his intelligent flicks-on were wasted on his team-mates. Cracking goal defied barbs that he only scores against minnows, but that will be forgotten tomorrow.
Rating: Eight.

Substitutes:

David Beckham
Cross to Crouch was one of the few moments of class produced by the entire England team. Sadly for Beckham, England's elimination is bound to mean that he will never reach the 100-cap milestone.

Jermain Defoe
Brought on to remind everyone that McClaren had few other options.

Darren Bent
Introduced when it was already too late.

Crouchie

Although I don't rate Carson and he ****ed up monumentally tonight, it's very very harsh to say he'll never play for England again.

[Red_hot]

"Under my umber-ella ella ella eh eh eh. Oh **** they've scored."

Class!

[Red_Polo]

England get what we deserve internationally.... nothing.

The game is run by people totally unqualified to do so, and has been for decades. Faceless FA reps from the counties are promoted way beyond their station. Administrators who have no concept of football at the highest level. They in turn appoint managers unfit for the job. Their main priority isn't to advance the game but to protect their own empires and positions. Its been like this for decades.

We underachieve not because of foreign players. In the 1970's there were no foreign players but we failed to qualify for consecutive world cups and Euro championships. We toil against countries with a fraction of our populations. Tonight Croatia played like Arsenal under Wenger whilst we play like Bolton under allerdyce.

Football is rotten to the core in England. We have 10 year olds playing on full size pitches encouraged to belt the ball as far as possible. Strength & power not skill and technoque are the order of the day.

We'll always do ok, because we do have good players and a top notch manager would help but it wouldn't cure everything. We'll never match countries like Italy until theres a major overhaul. I'm not holding my breath.

Spot on

[Red Chilli]

Yes they did.

They said that Capello said that he would take the job if they offered him it. They said that he had said it on Italian television.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt because Englaish is not your first language.

They DID NOT SAY "CAPELLO HAS SAID THAT HE WANT THE JOB".

It's totally different to say he would take the job if offered.

[animal magic]

robinson has made more mistakes than carson but he was still getting picked

[Iceman]

Crouchie

Although I don't rate Carson and he ****ed up monumentally tonight, it's very very harsh to say he'll never play for England again.

Thank F*ck Villa are committed to paying us 8.25 million if they want Carson this season

[Kilteragh]

robinson has made more mistakes than carson but he was still getting picked

Bizarre time to drop him though what with this game being the most pressured England have had in a while.

[animal magic]

Bizarre time to drop him though what with this game being the most pressured England have had in a while.

well thats mcclown for you

[Iceman]

Bizarre time to drop him though what with this game being the most pressured England have had in a while.

It is such "fine line" decisions that make or break managers

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson Plays a blinder............We win and Qualify............... the press hail McClaren as a tactical genius


Reality

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson has a Howler...........We lose and dont qualify............... the press berate McClaren as a tactical idiot

[Kilteragh]

It is such "fine line" decisions that make or break managers

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson Plays a blinder............We win and Qualify............... the press hail McClaren as a tactical genius


Reality

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson has a Howler...........We lose and dont qualify............... the press berate McClaren as a tactical idiot

That's not a fine line to me. That's taking an unnecessary risk in an all to lose situation. If he was going to drop him it should have been three games ago or not at all.

Even then I would have picked David James ahead of Carson for his experience. Even though James is error prone he has been playing well recently.

[jonesie]

It is such "fine line" decisions that make or break managers

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson Plays a blinder............We win and Qualify............... the press hail McClaren as a tactical genius


Reality

McClaren drops Robinson............... Scott Carson has a Howler...........We lose and dont qualify............... the press berate McClaren as a tactical idiot

Carson should never have played. If McClaren thought he couldn't trust Robinson then why didn't he play James. You need experience in big games, especially in those conditions.

What big games has Carson played in? Home to Juventus for us, he ****ed up then too. That's it.

You only have to look at Reina to see that Carson is nowhere near his level. Daft decision to play him.

Anyway, what do I care? I'm Welsh.

[AFII]

Robert Green is the best english keeper by a mile.

[Kilteragh]

Carson should never have played. If McClaren thought he couldn't trust Robinson then why didn't he play James. You need experience in big games, especially in those conditions.

What big games has Carson played in? Home to Juventus for us, he ****ed up then too. That's it.

You only have to look at Reina to see that Carson is nowhere near his level. Daft decision to play him.

Anyway, what do I care? I'm Welsh.

That's what I just said

Except I'm Irish so what do I care