Oh no...not more McClaren misery

By Richard Groom

First the bad news: Steve McClaren is back from the dead, resurrected by Israel's sensational win over Russia in their Euro 2008 qualifier.

He would probably have been out of a job had Dimitry Sychev's last-minute shot grazed the other side of a post seconds before Omer Golan's winner for Israel gave England the reprieve they hardly deserve.

Influential members of the FA board were reportedly ready to part company with McClaren instantly had it not been for the dramatic events in Tel Aviv.

But the pressure is still very much on the England coach. If his side fail to secure a draw with Croatia on Wednesday, McClaren's chances of survival will be nil - and rightly so.

Forget all the excuses, injuries to key players and waffle about formations. The truth is that McClaren has failed to galvanise a credible squad, and failed to prove his many critics wrong.

His rose-tinted ramblings after lacklustre displays are almost as annoying as the bluster of those billionaire club owners who think they have a divine right to run (and ruin) the game.

Which brings us to Roman Abramovich. What a joy it was to see Israel, playing for nothing but pride, upset the Russian's apple-cart.

For once he couldn't buy glory because international football is about much more than money, which is why the likes of Israel, Scotland and Northern Ireland can punch way above their weight.

Long may they and other 'small' nations continue to do so. While money-fuelled club football becomes ever more predictable at the highest level, those oft-forgotten values like team spirit, passion and pride in the shirt still play an important part on the international stage.

So let's end with the really good news: Northern Ireland's David Healy is now the record scorer in a European Championship qualifying campaign with a tally of 13. His glorious late winner against Denmark at a rain-lashed Windsor Park took him past Davor Suker's record that had stood for 12 years. And Northern Ireland still have an outside chance of qualifying for Euro 2008 despite their meagre resources. Who said the true spirit of football is dead? Feel free to post your comments below.

Comments

[Brian]

Once again it looks like England are going in by the back door. It really raises the heckles when dull teams qualify and the "minnows" who play their heart out for little financial reward are left behind to watch the overpaid and over-rated teams soak up the luxury.
As for the current manager, he's just the last in a long line of bores stretching back to Sir Alf Ramsay. The only flare then was the players trousers.
Still we can always look forward to England exiting Euro on penalties!
One last moan, why did the EBC (English Broadcasting Co) show 30 minutes of 1 unimportant game (the England friendly with Austria) on Friday and 30 minutes MAtch of the Day covering 3, yes 3, Euro qualifiers? Is it because it was only Scotland, N Ireland and Wales?

[Duane]

englands next manager should be stuart pearce get the grit back in to the bulldog spirit

[Bryan Ingleby]

My man Steve says we have to be positive and will be positive - so he will play a 5 man mid field with Becks standing on one leg quality crossing to our one man up front - Crouchy. The Croatians won't know whats hit them.

Easy!

[PETER H]

There's nothing wrong with the England team that a tough
training session with the Royal Marines Commandos wouldn't put right. What England lack is that "killer instinct", that fear for their lives if they fail to
secure the win and contain the "enemy".
All this of course has to come from the top down and I
question if Steve Maclaren
is hungry enough for the
success.

[get real]

It's a tournament where each team plays each other twice you plank and the top two go through. We are in a favourable position because we got a result against Israel whereas Russia didn't. On your logic ManU didn't win the league on merit last year.....they won it because other teams did them a 'favour' by taking points off Chelsea. As someone else had said....load of tosh.

[Paul McA]

I don`t see why the FA just didn`t give the job to Terry Venables anyway?.He is a great football manager and is not afraid to make changes if supoosedly top players don`t perform.Why did McClaren play Owen in a an un-important friendly when he is already short of strikers? (Doh!)Now he has a very limited strike force for the crucial Croatia game (What a goat!)

[keep]

correct about views on N.Ireland, they were amazing. If only England had half as much passion they could beat the world!!!

[WICKTOR]

..we want to see england play exciting, creative, and inspirational football..so we need a coach who can instill those qualities..

[wicktor]

..in footballing terms beckham is already drawing his pension, give us a break and at least pick someone who's match fit and skllful. we can all take feekicks and corners.!!!...

[jo bloggs]

What a load of tosh. And you get paid for writing this!

[David, Sutton]

Really enjoyed your piece Richard. A great point about international football being thankfully separate from the world of billionaire club owners, who have so polarised club football between the few haves and the many have-nots. Sadly though, there's not much romance in international football either, despite the occasional heroics of nations like Scotland and Northern Ireland. Unfortunately they won't be at Euro 2008 and it looks like England, rather apologetically, will be.

[Jon Bon Jovi]

Hi Richard

Totally agree with what you're saying.

It was a move sideways to choose a man associated with the Sven era as the England coach. Venables should have been the number one, not the other way around.

England need to qualify next week, then thank McClaren for his services and start looking for a new coach for next year.

I would like to see someone like Hiddink in charge of the side. He's turned poor international teams into outfits that can compete with the best.

I'd also like to see a coach employed who will get rid of the star players who don't deliver at international level.

I still dream of the day I pick up a paper and it says 'Jose is new England boss'.

There's nothing wrong with looking abroad again, but it has to be someone the public is aware of and happy to see coach England.