England lose to Croatia

[onenilgameover]

certainly welcomed back into the bosom of mistress football tonight...what a larph...

[Gaillimh Al]

England were awful and deserved to lose. God only knows what he was thinking putting Carson in for a game like that. I do think the NFL game didn't help, both wings where all their entourages and subs and that stand was atrocious. But both teams had to play on it. I wonder when was the last time England's Premiership stars had played on a surface that bad. They didn't seem to know how to cope with it, and resorted to lumping it to Crouch who did everything he possibly could. He is such a waste of talent at Liverpool.
Fair play to the Croatians, but I seriously doubt if they would have attacked as wholeheartedly if they had needed a point from the game. No pressure or expectation on them = freedom to express themselves and that they did. Well done Slavan Bilic, a future Champions League winning manager maybe?

[Supreme feet]

Great stuff. I don't think they'll be much of a loss to Euro 2008. Apart from the drama of the penalties against Portugal, they contributed absolutely nothing to the last World Cup. The Paraguay, T&T and Ecuador games were shocking, the Sweden game was meaningless and the quarter-final was scoreless. Didn't take any pleasure in watching them, only relief when they were eliminated.

[cheifo]

Croatia were excellant tonight.Played some great stuff on that awful pitch.I really admired the way they took the game to England at 2-2.
Bit harsh on N.I. Reitoir, they had a better qualifiers than we did and came out with pride.Agree with you about Liechenstein though, their 3-0 win over Iceland was the heroic result of the qualifiers.
At this stage who can say Premiership footballers are not overpaid/rated.If I am not mistaken Israel finished on 23 points-same as England.Collectively
how much are they valued at in contrast to "The Golden Generation".

[shaneker]

Impossible to feel sorry for them as I do for Scotland and NI. Sh!te, pure and simple, deserved nothing and got nothing from the start to the end of the campaign.

And am I foolish for thinking 20/1 on Croatia winning the thing next year is amazing value? Looking at the way they have played this campaign in the big games, coupled with their savvy coach, makes me think no team will be able to get an easy game off them, and with Europe generally not looking too good in footballing terms right now they have as good a chance as any?

EDIT - from bbc.co.uk


Croatia coach Slaven Bilic believed England's players were unable to cope with the expectations of a hugely expectant country and media.

"We didn't feel that kind of negative pressure," said Bilic.

"It's a bit hard, although they are world-class players and should cope with it, it is hard to cope with that kind of negative pressure.

Bilic added: "Wake up. You didn't lose the game because of the tactics.
"We're simply a better team. I admire your team and your players but my team is a much better team."

I love this guy!

[Closed Account 2]

Croatia are a good bet but Romania are very strong too... The power center of European football is swinging east. Teams like Romania, Croatia and Russia play great football. Theyve skillfull players who are full of stamina and play a great passing game.

[Closed Account 2]

oh by the way - JA TE VOLIM - HRVATSKA !!!

[shaneker]

I confess to knowing very little about Romania, although I have noticed how well they have done in this campaign, so they must be doing something right. Anyone in particular to look out for?

I'm thinking Croatia because they seem very intelligent; a real knowledge of when to hold onto the ball, when to spring a counter attack and when to slow the pace down. Combined with the fact that they have some properly good players; I can't be arsed to look up the names but the young fella in central midfield has class written all over him, Olic never stopped running and caused so many problems, very solid central defence, pace on the flanks, with a good cheeky coach...could be a cup-winning combination!

I genuinely believe (and this theory occured to me after Greece won EURO 2004) that the shift in power in Europe is largely due to the prima donna and celebrity status of most English/Italian/Spanish footballers. International football seems to be a chore for them, something they do because they have to, not an honour. Countries like Romania, Croatia, Greece, even Macedonia and Israel, still seem to have that pride and passion for the shirt, and the performances are reflecting this. Maybe this has always been the case to some degree, but with football so money-driven these days it is really starting to have an impact, such as Greece winning the title of best team in Europe. 3 years later, it still makes no sense in footballing terms, so there must be some other factor at play.

Its happened to us, too. Several players looking like playing for Ireland is a minor distraction from their 10/20/30/60 grand a week day jobs. The difference is we aren't good enough to compensate (although I suppose neither are England now! ).

[kingdom hoop]

oh by the way - JA TE VOLIM - HRVATSKA !!!

I know Hrvatska is Croatia (on the passport) - presumably then, it means I love you Croatia?

If so, good shout. Beautiful country, great footballing football team, and, most importantly, stunning women.

[Closed Account 2]

da odlocino prijateli! ti razus hrvatski/srpski ??

hvala lepo mladen petric i ivca olic

[kingdom hoop]

da odlocino prijateli! ti razus hrvatski/srpski ??

Eh no, but I think I might have a strange knack of deciphering foreign tongues.

Is it a tough one to learn? I wouldn't mind settling down in Split/Zagreb/Dubrovnik with a local chica bonita!

[Closed Account 2]

yeah i spent a couple of months out there and picked bits of it up, but it's impossible to learn it properly, there are so many rules, conjugations etc, but simple enought o pick up waht you'd need for a holiday.

split is very nice, a nice big town by the coast... Zagreb is ok a bit bland though best city in ex-Yug is probably Mostar IMO

back on topic, what a great manager Bilic is!!

[Boh_So_Good]

No doubt, you and the rest of the Hartlepoole Albion and the Queen's Own Athletic Oirish Paddywackery Division in Oirland FC must be filling your West Brit wellies with sperm...etc...etc...

[kingdom hoop]

Yeah edmundo, I travelled around there for about two weeks before, Split is lovely, and I thought Zagreb was pretty nice too. Of course though I'd rather live nearer to that delightful Dalmation coast if possible.

Agree on Bilic, but not too sure about the earring! Adds a bit of menace I suppose, saying that, its not like he needed much more. It was great to see him so excited after the winner, fair play to him.

Apparently he has a law degree, so obviously reasonably clever, and added to his wonderful passion and the fact that he has the legends of Asanovic and Prosinecki alongside him its no great surprise they played so well tonight and previously.

I think, not just for beating England tonight, they might be my team for the Euros, always had a soft spot for them anyway.

Ja te volim Hrvatska.

[mypost]

I genuinely believe (and this theory occured to me after Greece won EURO 2004) that the shift in power in Europe is largely due to the prima donna and celebrity status of most English/Italian/Spanish footballers. International football seems to be a chore for them, something they do because they have to, not an honour. Its happened to us, too. Several players looking like playing for Ireland is a minor distraction from their 10/20/30/60 grand a week day jobs.

Bar the English, all the big guns will be at the finals, Italy are WCW, while all semi-finalists in the last tournament were from Western Europe.

Greece's win was a fluke, when everything went their way. It won't happen again. The winner this time will be one from the usual suspects once again.

As for the English, I have a message for them. Your last EC campaign lasted 12 games, and this one also lasted 12 games. Welcome to the rejects list, and see how you cope with been an also ran for a change.

[as_i_say]

The Austrian and Swiss Police, fans. residents and open air coffee shop owners no doubt delighted by last nights result and that the en-ger-land hooligan scum brigade will not be travelling en masse to their towns.

[CollegeTillIDie]

McClaren got the bullet this morning according to SKYNEWS. And with the English minority hooligan element out of the equation the bill for running the damn thing has come down by multi -thousands for the Swiss and the Arnies !

[Stuttgart88]

Croatia were super to watch. Whatever people say about the southern European / latin style I've always thought the eastern Europeans are the best to watch.

Always tall, athletic and a bit physical they have also always had superb technique and England's "world class" midfield was taught a lesson last night.

It's a deep rooted problem. David Platt (?) was saying as much on SKY (yes,. I watched it again at 10:30 I was so happy!). They way they football will never win a tournament. They are a set-piece and high ball team. Everything Croatia did last night was measured. Even Bent's late chance was from a blind hoof over the top from Lampard that Charlton would have loved. I thought Crouch's goal was very good though.

Did you hear Shearer at HT? I was p1ssing myself. Croatia were passing with aplomb, keeping possession, spreading the play and taking and controlling passes like they had velcro on their boots. Shearer's response was " we've go to...eh...eh....eh.... get in amongst them"! Is that all successful career in club and international football has taught him about the game?

Fascinating contrast in styles, almost like Celtic vs Moscow in the CL qualifier in Glasgow.

As for Motty: "say something Mark" "please Beckham please", oh God it was funny.

[beautifulrock]

Well done Slavan Bilic, a future Champions League winning manager maybe?

Wait a second why didnt we think of that We should have selected a former experienced defender with no managerial experience as our manager.

[beautifulrock]

And with the English minority hooligan element out of the equation the bill for running the damn thing has come down by multi -thousands for the Swiss and the Arnies !

that is true but England travel in massive numbers (60,000 plus in Germany)and spend likewise when on their travels. Big loss to the economy of the host nation that is for sure.