ENGLAND WILL MISS EURO 2008

by Brian P. Foley, The College Baseball Blog


The English National Team will miss the European Championships in the summer of 2008 after losing to Croatia on Wednesday 3-2 at Wembley Stadium. The English team only needed a tie to qualify for the tournament but could not come through on the wet turf in London. England manager Steve McClaren started his backup goalie Scott Carson in his first competitive international game. Regular starter Paul Robinson did not even dress for the game. David Beckham also came off the bench and set up the tying goal but the tie did not last as Croatian substitute Petric scored with 13 minutes remaining to seal the deal.

The Times Online is already reporting that Steve McClaren will be relieved of his duties on Thursday at an 8:30 am press conference. This is the second time in the last 13 years that the English national team missed a major international soccer tournament. The English side missed the 1994 World Cup that was hosted by the United States. Rumors are flying around England right now that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho or Luis Felipe Scolari will be the next manager but we will see what will happen. The English were complaining that former manager Sven-Goran Erikkson's coaching style and tactics but he never missed a major international competition and ran out backup players for the most important game for the team.

This is a national tragedy in England and the United States would like to send their condolences to the English soccer fans. We all know that our national pastime in baseball could not even win the World Baseball Classic. So we understand the pain.