Football Corner

England have tonight been defeated at hands of Croatia at Wembley 3-2, thus ending their hopes of qualifying for next summer's Euro 2008. England went into the game needing only a draw to progress from the group but they lost and that was coupled with Russia beating Andora 1-0.

England got off to a shocker and found themselves 2-0 down within a quarter of an hour. The first goal came due to a howler by Scott Carson in the England goal. But England came out in the second half and got their two goals that brought the sides level and all they needed to do was hold out and they qualified.

But they fell to deep and were punished when Croatia grabbed their third and England just couldn't get back from that. England boss Steve McClaren has been under pressure for some time and this will almost certainly see the former Middlesbrough boss get the chop from the FA.

I think this may be the only good news from tonight for England fans because under McClaren I thought they were rubbish. People said Eriksson was bad as the England boss but frankly compared to McClaren their was no contest. It may also just give the England players a wake up call.

Many managers in the Premier League complain that some of their players come back tired from major international tournaments in the summer. Now they can't make that excuse about their English players and maybe next the next Premier League season may turn out to be better with fresher players.