Will England qualify for Euro 2008?

[The whole year inn]

England only really get one world class player through per generation.

The reasons for this are a mixture of everything already mentioned.

Anyway, scrappy 2-0 win for England tonight

[papereyes]

Waddle, Gascoigne and Beardsley were such a cohesive attacking unit, and feeding Platt and Lineker too.

History completely underrates Waddle, Platt and perhaps even Lineker.

They're a pretty good bunch in the main; there are a couple of excellent players and one or two duffers but I think player for player the team compares favourably to most of the teams in Europe. As such England probably have about as much chance as, say, Germany or Spain or Holland of winning the competition - provided they qualify.

Is there really an outstanding European team full of 'World Class' players?

No, but I think that two factors are at play: the England players are, to some extent, overrated by the English media to the detriment of 'foreigners' (ie the teams that are better than England are actually a fair bit better than England) and that the countries who have a limited pool of talent but do quite well from it (definately the scandinavian countries, possibly would include Germany, any others?) understand that the team comes ahead of the individuals and work to that aim.

So England can't match the best teams in terms of talent and then can struggle against slightly less good teams in terms of organisation.

I'd be interested to see if there was a way of testing that as a hypothesis. Certainly 2006's results would support it as a theory.

[Royal Rother]

The main problem with England is that we are (one of?) the most uninteresting and tedious team to watch out of the Top 20 nations.

We are so one dimensional and unimaginitive in our play that only my little boy's enthusiasm for Mr Beckham's return to the fold will give me the enthusiasm to watch it tonight.

[Royal Rother]

I wonder what Rooney's absence from the forthcoming qualifiers will do for our chances.

Although Rooney hasn't contributed much internationally for the last year or 2 one would imagine his injury will have given McClaren good cause to start calculating his redundancy pay-off.

[g]

With Rooney gone, there is a bit more hope for qualifaction!

[Royal Rother]

Hmmm.... I doubt you mean that really.

[g]

Rooney hasn't scored for England since 2004, even Peter Crouch could have scored against Andorra.

[soggy biscuit]

Rooney has proven time and time again that he bottles big games, I am quite happy to have other forwards playing so that things are not centred around someone who has let his team down so often.

over 3 years without an international goal in a 4 year international career, speaks for itself.

[Franchise FC]

Rooney hasn't scored for England since 2004, even Peter Crouch could have scored against Andorra.

That's not true - he scored against Holland last season. He may not have scored in competitive games, though.

[papereyes]

I actually hope that England don't qualify.

Israel will keep the missus happy. and its only a tiny operation.

[The whole year inn]

I actually hope that England don't qualify.

.

So do I to an extent. Will maybe give the FA the kick up the arse it needs.

I'm sure the majority of Austrian/Swiss police would rather England weren't there either.

[Hoop Blah]

Rooney hasn't scored for England since 2004, even Peter Crouch could have scored against Andorra.

Only problem is that Crouch is suspended for the two qualifiers.

Even with Owen on his way back from injury MacLaren's options upfront are seriously stretched.

[Stranded]

So much so that a fit Lita would have had a chance given his record at the U21 champs.

[Royal Rother]

It's great that this is a poll, which means I can go back and find it when we qualify and laugh at you all miserable negative bastards.

[paultheroyal]

It's great that this is a poll, which means I can go back and find it when we qualify and laugh at you all miserable negative bastards.

Not sure what is sadder - that post or you waiting four months to be proved right!! lol

[Royal Rother]

I am always right Paul - I don't need to prove it to anyone.

It is interesting to see that 4 months ago the poll showed that >50% of people thought we wouldn't qualify, and it is rather funny that Spacey thought he'd look it up to demonstrate how wrong we all were.

(Could this yet bounce back on me in a few weeks time...?)

[Oi Oi Saveloy]

RR in 'I told you so' Shocker

[Focher]

we have no chance whatsoever qualifying. Russia will get a win in Israel because...

-2m Russians have moved to Israel since 1985

-Abramovich bankrolls both countries teams, and we know which one he favours

There is no way in my opinion Israel will be allowed to win or draw, let alone get a result against Russia on a fair playing field.

come on the jews!

[Tony Le Mesmer]

We can still qualify even if Russia beat Isreal.

Although not that likely, if Croatia lose in Macedonia the England/Croatia game will decide who joins Russia in the finals. That would mean England having to win by at least 2 goals on the head to head rule. Croatia needed a very late winner to see off Macedonia at home.

[bigmike]

I am going for yes... I think England will do it..

I think Russia will slip up.. Their home form has been good for them but their away form will make Russia suffer.