Is it better to lose now or have a disappointing Euro 2008?

[Stud83]

Ok, so I am upset and angry after today's results, but quite frankly, I feel much better than I felt after our losses to Portugal and Brazil @ the latest World Cups and Euro 2004. It's much better to lose now and not waste valuable time with McClaren with whom you know the team has no chance of winning any major trophies, then have high hopes only to be embarassed in next year's Euros.

France may work as an example - they failed to qualify to 1994 World Cup after losing to Bulgaria in the last game (when all they needed was a draw). And then... well, then Jacquet came and France went on a pretty good little run, winning World Cup, Euro Cup, then reaching finals last year. Hopefully, something similar can happen with England, if only FA doesn't ******** up with the coach again.

[dustcowpoke]

What do you mean? England did lose out on a major trophy. No joke I sat here in front of my computer watching a crap Chinese feed and almost cried knowing that I won't have a team to support in Euro 2008.

[Stud83]

What do you mean? England did lose out on a major trophy. No joke I sat here in front of my computer watching a crap Chinese feed and almost cried knowing that I won't have a team to support in Euro 2008.

But suppose a team makes it and then loses in the first round or quarterfinals (I mean, you don't expect McClaren's team to be among favorites, do you), would you have felt better then?

[new_skin]

But suppose a team makes it and then loses in the first round or quarterfinals (I mean, you don't expect McClaren's team to be among favorites, do you), would you have felt better then?

Qualifying is always better than not qualifying. It helps with seeding for future draws, apart from the obvious one billion pounds lost from England not qualifying.

[gameson]

1. FA sucks. McClaren was never the right man for the job. Tell me, who is the best quality English Manager? Zero, none. The big 4 all has foreign coach, Fergie, Jose M (before controversially pushed out), Wenger, Benitez.
2. It shows that McClaren sucks. How in the hell he left out Paul R and opt for rookie Carson, who is not even proven. If I want to gamble, at least I put David J. Then after half time, they pulled out SWP and put on Beckham. They should have pulled out FL and put Beckham. Midfield should be (R-L), Beckham, SG, GB, JC, and put SWP as a striker as he is fast and on pace.

Players might be world class, but manager? none (tell me, what has McClaren deliver during his club manager tenure? Nothing), and what surprised me is that he will get 2.5 M pound package as severance. Heck, wtf...

[Devil_78]

At least now, with England out, we can do now what we should have done after the Andorra game, and get shot of McClaren.

If McClaren had got this team to the finals dance, we would have failed miserably, of that, I have no doubt. However, by qualifying for the Euro's, it would have muddied the waters enough to potentially allow McClaren to keep his job for the 2010 WC qualifiers. However, by failing (as most of us knew he would) to get us into 2008, the FA now has an excuse to right the wrong and get shot now, and gives them time to actually get the job done properly Though I have my doubts) and get a decent manager in place. And I personally do not care if the manager is English or foriegn. I would prefer English, but for the managers role, I'd far rather the besy man for the job. After all, its the players on the pitch representing us, and we need the best guy with the abilities to get some fire in the belly, and get the good players we have to play as a unit. After all, thats how Scotland has done so well. They have a team of pretty good players, but they gel as a unit. How? Because the coach has got them to do so.

McClaren has led England into a series of disasterous performances, where the players have to shoulder their share of responsibilty for being such a bunch of nancy-boys. However, everyone knows we have a squad of prima-donnas now, so it is up to the manager to get that bunch of pria-donnas to gel, which McClaren patently did not do.

I dont know who I would pick as manager, but Guus Hiddink would be good! Also, second thing I would do, is to organise a summer surprise camp for the England players, and hand them over to the Royal Marines. After all, they know a thing or two about working as a unit in tough situations! Clive Woodward used it as an excellent way of testing his players before the 2003 RWC. The players got a new sense of team work, and he got a list of players who needed more work.

That, and I would enjoy the players suffering after the nightmare they have put me through!

[thebigman]

econamy wise, a billion is alot of moulah! but i thinknot going and making the squad better for '10 is better

[clynnog]

If McClaren had got this team to the finals dance, we would have failed miserably, of that, I have no doubt. However, by qualifying for the Euro's, it would have muddied the waters enough to potentially allow McClaren to keep his job for the 2010 WC qualifiers. After all, its the players on the pitch representing us, and we need the best guy with the abilities to get some fire in the belly, and get the good players we have to play as a unit.


I would organise a summer surprise camp for the England players, and hand them over to the Royal Marines.


Well said, excellent points. With McClaren at the helm England would have been knocked out in the 1st round and likely via a dubious penalty etc. At least this time against Croatia England got beaten fair and square and w/o any controversy (off side, hand ball, dubious red card, dubious penalty, petulant play). Now England have until September 2008 etc, before another competitive game and it is time that some players admit the end is near and gracefully retire from internationals...you know who you are Nevilles, Campbell, James, Beckham. With Beckham I may be kind and grant him a send off in a home friendly for his 100th cap.

The summer camp is an excellent idea...no media nonsense, just physical fitness, tactics, hard work, no WAG's and make sure you wear your shinpads (it always strikes me as unusual when seeing England preparations that they never wear shinpads...do clubs not wear shinpads at training sessions.).

Not sure who to support now in Euro 2008...there aren't any real surprise teams.

[Big balls]

Is this thread meant to be serious ?. NO! argument can be made that it's a good thing to miss a Euro Cup/ World Cup. It's a disaster but atleast England can lose the clown they call a coach.

[yamiro16]

on the bright side...beckham will be available to play for galaxy next summer:)

[CrewDust]

At least you'll save some quid.

[CherryBomb]

Better to lose now? The better question is, how stupid is that question?

We pished on our silver platter.

If the FA wasn't a bunch of useless twats, wouldn't have to decide.

[GoodDead]

What a dumb question I was freaking out during Portugal vs Finland had we lost that and not made the Euro's I would feel worse then the loss to Greece or France as at least we had a run and showed the football world something. Euro 2008 will not be the same without England.

Oh and for those of you looking to support a team, Portugal welcomes you all with open arms ;)

Best of Luck in WC qualifying hopefully you get a decent coach with balls to sit Premiership stars.

[superdave]

apart from the obvious one billion pounds lost from England not qualifying.
Where does this number come from? It just doesn't make a lick of sense. Where the hell would that money be coming from? I just can't imagine a billion new pounds being pumped into England's economy.

[Adrian11]

I heard with England AND Ireland out, the Brittish economy takes a multibillion dollar hit. It was in an issue of SI a few weeks ago.

[CherryBomb]

I heard with England AND Ireland out, the Brittish economy takes a multibillion dollar hit. It was in an issue of SI a few weeks ago.

One thousand Billion more lost and they might be on the same level as Brazil.

I heard.

[barroldinho]

It is much worse that we lose at this stage. Our team should have been more than capable of making it to the Euros and the fact that they failed is bitterly disappointing.

[CherryBomb]

It is much worse that we lose at this stage. Our team should have been more than capable of making it to the Euros and the fact that they failed is bitterly disappointing.

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1409233/2/istockphoto_1409233_sad.jpg

[Itsnotsoccer]

I hope you can get a refund on the deposit you put down on those hotels in Austria. Arrogant fu**ers. Croatia were so much better than you it was laughable. To fail to qualify from that group is hilarious.:D

[CherryBomb]

I hope you can get a refund on the deposit you put down on those hotels in Austria. Arrogant fu**ers. Croatia were so much better than you it was laughable. To fail to qualify from that group is hilarious.:D

God I hope you're not stupid enough to curse the USA like that. Nobody could be that idiotic.