| England fail to qualify for the Euro 2008 football | | | | technical aspects of the game, preferring a more |
| tournament, with a tepid display against a technically | | | | robust and direct style, but what England lacked in |
| superior Croatian team. | | | | skill, they more than made up for in passion and |
| The premiership players were defended by a number | | | | work ethic. Sadly, the passion and work ethic has |
| of ex players who cited the head coach, the tactics, | | | | departed along with the support of many of the long |
| the pitch and injuries to key players as excuses. | | | | suffering England fans. |
| Others cite the number of foreign players who ply | | | | The head coach Steve McClaren and his assistant |
| their trade in the premiership depriving English | | | | Terry Venables were immediately sacked, but depart |
| youngsters of the chance to gain experience in the | | | | with a substantial pay off. It seems that failure can |
| world's premier league. | | | | make you rich. |
| The so called golden generation who are paid | | | | The position of England head coach has always been |
| upwards of £100,000 a week to play in The | | | | something of a poisoned chalice. However, many fans |
| Barclays Premiership appear to have decided that club | | | | believe its time for the players to step forward and |
| and monitory rewards come before national pride. | | | | admit their shocking lack of effort and basic skills led |
| England have always lacked some of the more | | | | to the humiliating defeat. |