On at the present time in 2007: England fail to qualify for Euro 2008 after Croatia defeat
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England had been crushed 3-2 by Croatia at Wembley on at the present time in 2007 to finish their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 and seal the destiny of supervisor Steve McClaren.
Their failure to qualify for the Euros meant the writing was on the wall for McClaren, who was dismissed as boss a day later after 18 months in cost.
McClaren had watched the dismal defeat unfold within the pouring rain at Wembley from underneath an umbrella and was dubbed the “wally with a brolly”.
England solely wanted a draw to e-book their place on the finals in Austria and Switzerland however discovered themselves two objectives down on the break, Scott Carson letting Niko Kranjcar’s 25-yard effort slip by his grasp for the primary earlier than former Arsenal striker Eduardo made it two.
David Beckham got here off the bench for his 99th cap and impressed an England comeback as he arrange Peter Crouch for an outstanding equaliser shortly after Frank Lampard had transformed a 56th-minute penalty to place England on the right track for qualification.
But the fightback proved in useless as Croatia substitute Mladen Petric beat Carson from 20 yards 13 minutes from time to finish England’s hopes.
After the match McClaren declared he wouldn’t be stepping down, however the Football Association took the choice out of his palms by sacking him after simply 18 video games, making him the shortest-serving everlasting England boss in historical past on the time.
McClaren’s reign heralded simply 9 wins and ended with the group conceding three objectives on residence soil for the primary time in 35 years.
“I feel I have let the fans down and the country down,” mentioned McClaren.
“I knew that if we didn’t qualify that would put the board in a difficult position.
“I can understand the decision, the reaction and the criticism. It hurts and disappoints me, but that is football and it will make me stronger in the future.”
England turned subsequent to Fabio Capello, whereas McClaren rebuilt his status by main Dutch aspect FC Twente to the Eredivisie title in 2010 and had additional spells at Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Newcastle and QPR and is now on the teaching employees at Manchester United.
