What a pity to see one of the major footballing nation in Europe and the World to sit at home and watch Euro 2008 instead of playing it.The last match of England against Croatia was a gift offered to them by the Isreal team who beat Russia to hand England their destiny in their own hands instead of seeing Russia clinching their qualification before the last match to be played. England team did not take full advanatage of this golden opportunity and in fact spurned it before its thousands loyal fans. The night started badly for England players in the rain of Wembley. Till now England had not conceded goals in their home soil for a quite long time but this lasted for a mere nine minutes when Niko Kranjar shot found the net breaking many hearts in its way and bringing England players down to earth. Against the run of play Olic added a second stunning everyone and leaving England rueing their missed chances.
There is nothing good to say about England's first half performance. Second half, David Beckam and Defoe came on in place of inefficient Barry and SW, Phillips. A penalty converted by Lampard gave Englance chances a lifeline and when Beckham crossed from the right wing is well controlled by Crouch and coolly finished in the bottom corner, England fans went in rapture thinking of Euro ahead. But then two croatian substitudes combined well to give Croatia a 2-3 lead from a strike by Petric outside the area leaving Carson helpless once again and forcing the Home fans to become silent and hope for a miracle, which eventually did not come......
Here is the rating I obtained from the site 4thegame.com...
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.
How do you rate the English team and who you think will be a good option for replacing McClaren?
Speak out your emotions....
Marcelo
Gerard Pique
Kevin Prince Boateng
Lucas Leiva
Ismael Aissati
Fabregas
Michael Johnson
Lennon
Denilson
Aguero
Anderson
Bojan
