[funkdoctorspock]

I can't stress how lucky England are to be in a position to qualify for Euro 2008. Israel played an outstanding game setting the table. England with a draw or win seal there place into the the competition.

Out for England: Rooney, Owen, Rio, Terry
Called to senior squad: Darren Bent
Returned from injury: Owen Hargreaves

I was hoping that Hargreaves would be rested for United. Bummer.

Croatia isn't going to be a pushover. I expect a hard fought game. Hopefully England get the result. They have no excuses now.

Confident McClaren adds Bent to squad

Tottenham striker Darren Bent has been drafted into the England squad for the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday night.


Steve McClaren is confident that despite injuries to his first-choice strikers Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney and favoured centre-halves Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, he has the players to get the required result against Croatia.

Bent, who joined Spurs for £16million from Charlton this summer, has scored two in three games after a slow start to his White Hart Lane career.

He comes into the squad after Owen was ruled out by a thigh strain suffered in the friendly victory over Austria on Friday. Also back in the squad is Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves after the former Bayern Munich man overcame tendinitis.

England need just a point to book their place in next summer's European Championships.

McClaren told Sky Sports News: 'I said after the game on Friday there is enough in that dressing room, there are good enough players to get the result we need. I have called up Darren Bent and Owen Hargreaves will join us.

'Owen has good experience and he is playing regularly for United.'

Asked how his team would now approach Wednesday night's match, he said: 'Expectations I know are great, but you can't do it without the fans.

'It's about sticking together, being positive and getting behind the team. We have got no excuses, we have to perform, and it would be a great boost to get the media, fans and people on the street behind us.'

The question was then raised whether McClaren would stand down if England lose on Wednesday night, a result which almost certainly mean they fail to qualify.

'I'm not going to discuss that. It's about the build-up and the preparation.'

McClaren revealed he had missed the last-gasp goal which may have saved his job after Israel handed England a Euro 2008 lifeline courtesy of their 2-1 win over Russia.

McClaren said: 'Unbelievable. I had slipped to the bathroom but heard a big scream from my two boys and gathered from that, unbelievably, that Israel had got the winner, it didn't seem like that when the game was poised at 1-1.

'But that's football, we are grateful. Israel are a proud nation.

'Not that I watched the majority of it but the key moments when it was a case of an agonising 95 minutes but getting the right result and we end up right exactly what I thought at the beginning - needing a result against Croatia to go through.'

McClaren also admitted England have nowhere to hide after they were handed the unexpected reprieve.

He added: 'The players are all buoyed with the result and the opportunity they have. I think the feeling is we've got a great chance now, it's up to us, there are no excuses.'

Although the Three Lions only need a point to qualify, McClaren insists the team will approach the game positively.

'Qualification is the key and I always felt we would have to win that game, but all we need to do is draw.

'We have to be positive, we have to go out there and attack, be up tempo. We have to get the balance right and make sure we are positive.'
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[Damo is a red]

England are a bunch of lucky b*stards, I can't believe qualification has gone to the wire like this. England should have won this group easily and not had to rely on other results.

[GocartMozart]

you know they are on the verge of destroying one of the funniest set of circumstances in the history of sports. it's a shame really. They would have been more useful if they had just flopped than if they make it.

Prediction: they make it to the quarterfinals and lose on penalties to Lichtenstein

[Damo is a red]

Originally Posted by GocartMozart

you know they are on the verge of destroying one of the funniest set of circumstances in the history of sports. it's a shame really. They would have been more useful if they had just flopped than if they make it.

Prediction: they make it to the quarterfinals and lose on penalties to Lichtenstein

... and then they will blame on a broken metatarsal.

[Ivan_11]

I think that the inly shame for England is Steve Mclaren, who is a bad manager, and the point that their feature on the EURO cup depends on the result in the last game, and with who else then Croatia, which is a shame...

[funkdoctorspock]

down 0-2 at the half.

I'm stunned.

451? ARE YOU FACKING SERIOUS?

you play to win, never to draw. Should have been a 442 with Defoe and Crouch up top. Lampard and SWP coming off the bench in the 2nd.

please bring on Beckham. He should have started.

[Ivan_11]

Unless Andora hit the net in the nest 3 minutes England is out of the EURO cup, whic is thax to mr. Steve McLost. Btw, what the heck is with him playing with just one attacker?

[TeKnIcIaN]

Final Score: England 2, Croatia 3

Since Russia beat Andorra, England are out and McLaren should not only be fired, he should be put in front of a firing squad. Why did he gamble on Carson? The game turned on the 6th minute when Carson completely flubbed a shot and let it in. Up until that point, England were looking promising but that killed us off.

[Dirtycheat]

england really didnt play like men, perhaps beckham needed to play earlier

gerrard was poo, lampard was his usual self. neither of the pair seemed to take defensive duties, massive gaps between the midfield and defence and at times there was no midfield altogether, just long balls which never fell to anyone.

cambell was woried about his crown jewells so the last one went in, had turned away instead of turning into the ball to block it. not really his fault though, it was eveyone in that area for not diving in like john terry or vidic.

carson was my MOM for me even though he made a massive mistake, because he didnt let his head go down and faught like a man. also no suprise that once becks went on things started going well, i thought neither gerrard or cambell took the lead tonight, england played with no captain until becks came on.

not the worst considering rooney, owen, hargreaves, heskey, cole, terry, rio and neville are out. but it wasnt lack of quality that lost this, it was lack of heart, determination and grit when things go badly.

the difference between scotland and england is that england have the better team, scotland have the better spirit and organisation.

pathetic really, might be a good kick up the back side.

oh, and i dont think mclaren should go. i hated his appointment, but i think england have improved under him. if it takes a club manager 2 years to imprint his style on a club, it should take the national team manager at least that if not more. england didnt lose because of mclaren, but because of complacency and taking things for granted.

i blame the players, not the manager.

imo its more of a risk playing robinson, the guy is on mission to out do calamity james. remember what happened last time england played croatia?

[funkdoctorspock]

I am so unbelievably angry, I do not know where to start.

Look out my thoughts on England on Terrace Talk.