Yeah we have got to grab this opportunity now though to fail after being given this opportunity just doesn't bear thinking about.
Russia losing to Israel was a bit of a shock. Anyway, it all boils down to the Croatia- England game. Will Croatia take it easy because they have already qualified ?
According to players and Bilic after the Macedonia match, Croatia will definitely not take it easy. It will be hard match to England. Loss to Macedonia was a little bit unlucky. The field was full of mudd and Bilic asked to postpone the match but Macedonians and UEFA haven't agreed. After all it was not football, it was more like a rugby match with Macedonia with more luck... If Eduardo managed to score in the beginning of the second half it would go in different direction... Darijo Srna said that they knew the Israel - Russia result on the halftime and that they were relaxed in the second half but Slaven Bilic refused to say that they were undermotivated in the second half and said that they will play real game in England trying to beat English on Wembley... Now my opinion... Croatia will play good game in England and it will be tough for England because of the following: 1. England is playing without Rooney and Owen 2. Croats are highly motivated because every player from our team wishes to play once for premiership team and the best way to show up is to score against England, isn,t it (remember Eduardo!)? These players will do anything to beat England - Eduardo from Arsenal (wants to play big part in Arsenal, not to enter in last 20 minutes), Corluka from Man. City and Kranjcar from Portsmouth, Pletikosa (goalkeeper, always wanted to play in England), Darijo Srna (in Croatian newspapers already connected with Liverpool)... Should I count more? 3. Slaven Bilic played significant part of his carreer in West Ham and Everton and being Croatian manager is his first big role as a manager. Could you think about him letting English beat his team? Noone in Croatia thinks he will calculate anything on Wednesday! I hope it will be a fair game and 2:2 draw
Well if we cannot get at least the draw v croatia that we need to qualify then we certainly do not deserve to go through no excuses.
It seems that its hard for England......'s manager to qualify next year with ENgland.Though it looks as if England's can make out from this but its sure that Mc laren is moving .Between it has been impossible to defeat Israel on their home soil so Russia doesnt match in front of them.Read this funny article on Steve or Anti Steve here. http://www.manchesterunited-blog.com:p
We'll qualify now we've been given our second chance, but our clown of a manager and his players should have a long hard look at themselves and sort themselves and their football out before the Euro 2008 tournament. In a way, I wouldn't mind us not going to the Euro's just so that McLaren would be sacked and hopefully the FA would stick someone in charge who knows what their doing and is passionate about their job, someone like Stuart Pearce
I know! I do feel a TAD embarrassed that I've always supported the Palestinians in their struggle against Israeli aggression and occupation - and here I am cheering an Israeli win! Lenin .... Stalin .... Trotsky .... Tchiakovsky .... Yashin ... Gorbachov .... Yeltsin ... Putin can you hear me? President Putin can you hear me? Your boys took a HELL of a beating! (To be said in a Norwegian accent obviously)
Surely England. Considering Russia's defeat against Israel, England just need a draw against Croatia at home.
Todays Croatian newspapers quoted an interview with co-owner of Spartak Moscow saying that he will buy goalkeeper and three best Croatian players a Mercedes each to win over England
ya...I read that in russian media too, knowing that Pletikosa is in Spartak Moscow and Ivica Olich played in Russia The chances are minimum, I cant believe how Russia played 1st half and how they played 2nd, they should blame themselves Too much money spoiled these bastards
Croatia has the option to be in second strongest group i Euro if won against England. This could be good motivation for tonight... But, just to be down to earth, noone can surely say that they will beat England on Wembley, but I am sure that Croats will do their best to do it...
unbelievable, seems like it's going that way England - Croatia 0 : 2 Andorra - Russia 0 : 1 Now we'll have some furious 2nd half!
Get in!!!!! Penalty scored by Frank Lampard to make it 2-1 Can we do it? EDIT: 2-2 Peter Crouch equalises from a Beckham cross, COME ON ENGLAND!!!