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Five to blame for England's Euro 2008 failure

Nik Wardle is dishing out the blame, who's going to get it?

Well, Steve McClaren's era as England manager is over. I've identified five areas where blame should be apportioned for the failure for England to qualify for Euro 2008.

The FA: Any fool could tell Steve McClaren was the wrong appointment. He appeared to get the job on the back of his coaching experience with the England squad and Boro's run to the final of the UEFA Cup. However, history tells that few No 2s can step up to be a successful No 1 and Boro didn't play any decent sides until the final, where they were humiliated by Seville. They did defeat Roma but it was their reserve side, as Italian teams don't take that tournament seriously. If the FA were hell-bent on appointing a British boss, then it should've been Martin O'Neill. He'd got Celtic to a UEFA Cup final, had success in Scotland with them and regularly got Leicester to the League Cup final in England. I don't see how not being able to do good Powerpoint presentations should smear his managerial record.

The manager: Steve McClaren got his tactics wrong in key games and was unable to motivate a team who should've easily got through their group. The latest Betfair odds for Euro 2008 have Croatia 7th favourites at 16.5 and Russia 11th at 42 - had England qualified, their odds would've been much shorter, due to the talent available. McLaren selected his team around the big-name players rather than picking players to suit a formation. Had Michael Owen been fit for Wednesday, England would've played 4-4-2 but his absence allowed McClaren to accommodate Frank Lampard, rather than playing Defoe and going like-for-like. England's best two performances were against Israel and Russia at home, when England played 4-4-2 and McLaren dropped Lampard for Barry, for the sake of the formation. His lack of nerve in his final team selection ultimately cost him his job.

The players: It's true that England were without six first-choice players against Croatia but they didn't have such injury problems throughout the whole campaign. England's squad is filled with top-level Champions League performers - the squads of Croatia and Russia are not. One slip in a campaign is acceptable but four certainly aren't. The players dish out the sound bytes about pride in the shirt but their performances suggest otherwise. What price great performances this weekend from Gerrard and Lampard?

News International: They own Sky and The Sun and are largely responsible for putting football on the front and back pages. The huge sum Sky paid to get exclusive rights to The Premier League back in 1993, was the catalyst for an upsurge in the financial focus of top clubs, including putting admission prices up and selling us credit cards, dressing gowns and golf balls. It's made the rich get richer. This "golden era" of football has made millionaires out of Premier League players and Alan Curbishley is correct when he said it must be hard to motivate them. They earn such vast sums of money now that a win bonus is a drop in the ocean to them. And this summer our international players will be on a beach with their WAGS - it's not a bad life for them, huh?

Club football: The Premier League and Champions league are so important now that top club managers don't want their players playing for their countries. Of course, they won't admit this, but how often does a player pull out of an international and then appear for their club on a Saturday? Also, there's a boxing term that a fighter can only have so many "wars" and, perhaps, this is true of top-level players. At present, four clubs in England fight out all the domestic honours and play Champions League football - that's a lot of high-intensity games for the select few players to manage.

The future: In the short term, the damage can be papered-over. England could appoint a manager who has such a force of personality (Lippi/Mourinho) that the players will buck their ideas up. They could also appoint a person to run the FA who can pick a decent manager (maybe David Dein). But the problem still exists that not enough English players get big game experience or even Premier League experience. Unless either more clubs can break into the big four or a quota for national players in club football is put in place, I can't see things improving. And I'd be surprised if either of them happened.

22 November 2007 / About Nik Wardle

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Comments (7)

Should the players need motivating when playing for their country?

Surely it should be the proudest moment of their lives and they should be busting a gut to give blood, sweat and honour for their country - but no, these overpaid fools would much rather be in 'Hello' magazine than on the sports pages.

Last night, when the national anthem was played, the only person signing proudly was an eight year old mascot! Work that one out!

McClaren has made mistakes and I fully support him being removed from his post. But I don't think he should take full responsibility - the players need to take a long hard look at themselves this morning.

As for the next manager, well give it to Stuart Pearce. At least we know that if anyone refuses to sing that national anthem, Pearce will probably walk up to them and smack them one - and for me, these England players need the biggest rollocking of their lives.

Mike Norman | 22 November 2007

I think Stuart Pearce should be left well alone with the Under-21s. We should attempt to bring in a much more experienced coach, preferably who has done it on the world stage already. Hiddink, Lippi and Scolari all spring to mind!
Roy Keane said some of the England players 'need their heads banging together'! I could not agree more and we need a manager who will instil some fight into the players.
Mourinho would also do a job in my opinion as he can motivate his players and has the cahrisma required, while if Pearce was promoted into the senior side backroom team he would need to work under someone.
We cannot make the same mistake as we have with McClaren again!

Craig Smithson | 22 November 2007

To Mike Norman,

Why should these players be proud to play for their country? Football is just a job to them and I'm sure many of them are not in the slightest bit bothered. Now they can all go and enjoy a holiday next summer. I bet their trophy wives are made up.

apal | 22 November 2007

I disagree... the players will definitely be feeling it when the Euro comes around. They are top level sports stars and it will hurt them to watch it on tv and not be there. Hopefully this will be some good motivation for them.

I agree with Craig above, Hiddink, Lippi and Scolari all have proven records on the world stage and only certain managers know how to play these types of competitions. I really don't think motivation is an issue, sometimes I think we are over-motivated (like last night) and this results in a lot of heart, but no tactical thought. We just end up pumping long balls up field. We had plenty of possession yesterday, we just did not know what to do with it! We need a manager who can put a team and squad together that actually plays good, clever football. Until that day comes, we will have to watch the likes of Croatia for decent football!

Marc L | 22 November 2007

Agree with most of what Nick has said but to simplify the three biggest errors were, in order of importance:

1. Steve McClaren should not have been selected as England Manager so that was the FA's fault! He is and was never good enough.

2. McClarens team selection was wrong in many of the games.

3. His motivation and tactics are poor. I do not accept he is a good coach!

If we had Scolari as manager we would have qualified and been in contention for the latter stages of the competition, individually the players are good enough...

Paul | 22 November 2007

I have to disagree with some of the comments here... I don't think the majority of the England players (for want of a better word) that appeared on the pitch Wednesday night wanted to win that game. Why? Because they wanted the summer off. They are too rich... which is making them lazy.

The ones that would have wanted to win and SHOULD have been on the pitch are the ones who do not care about the money, but alas had 'fake' injuries made up by their clubs to prevent them from selection. You watch to see how quickly Rooney, Owen et al are back performing for their clubs now that the national team doesn't require their services for a while.

Nick touched on a point at the end of the post:
"a quota for national players in club football is put in place"
That is exactly what is needed!
Having a maximum of 5 international players on the pitch at one time (or, even better, in the named squad all together) will greatly improve our national team by giving more ENGLISH players the much needed top-flight experience, week in - week out.

He also mentions "more clubs break into the big four":
A thought would be to adopt an American sports-style "wage cap". Each team is only permitted to spend a certain amount on wages each year... and every team has the same 'cap'. So, if a team wants 2 or 3 'super-greedy' players that amount to 25% of the 'cap', the remaining 20 or 30+ players have to come 'cheaply'.
This will not only reduce the stupid sky-high salaries, but also distribute talent amongst more teams, thus preventing "The Top 4" syndrome year after year.

Before anyone critises that saying all top players would go to Spain, Italy, etc:
A rule could be put in place that if they choose to play abroad, they give up the right to be chosen for the national squad.

Steve | 24 November 2007

Talk about further teams breaking into the Top 4 so more English players get Champions League experience. Why is it that so few English players (and managers) are prepared to play abroad?

Is it because the cash is so good, and they can't be arse'd to learna new language, new culture, new styles of play?

When you think of some of the average foreigners that ply there trade in the UK yet are stars for there (Euro Championship qualifying) countries.

Say some one like Michael Dawson, seems to be pretty average enough, stuck playing for Tottenham, unlikely to ever dislodge Terry/Rio. What if he (or somene of his standard)was playing for a mid-table team in Spain, then when England come up against teams, they have a player who knows all there is to know about the opposition.

English players only know one way of playing, the Premiership way, and that is why they fail against European teams.

The same goes for managers. People whinge that how can you have an experienced Englishman managing the national side, if they can;t manage one of the Top 4? Answer manage a team in Europe.

Is it the island mentality that stops them?

Of course there is no way to enforce these ideas. I can't imagine how easy it would be to persuade any player to move abroad unless its to Real or Barca or either of the Milans.

While in the past most players have failed, well for every David Beckham or Steve McManaman there is a Michael Owen & Jonathon Woodgate, but I respect them more for trying. In saying that I'd also respect them more for giving it a bit more than one season. Michael Owen came home because he was worried about his England place. As if, under Sven he was ever going to get dropped.

David | 08 December 2007