Footballing giant England’s so-called brave new world under Steve McClaren came to a shuddering halt on Wednesday as they were outplayed by Croatia, going down to a 2-0 defeat in their Euro 2008 qualifier.
The only consolation for England fans bitter at the manner of their World Cup quarterfinal exit to Portugal was that the Portuguese were the other surprise losers on the night, going down 2-1 away to Poland, seemingly revitalised under veteran Dutchman Leo Beenhakker.
Otherwise normal service was resumed as world champions Italy won their second successive match with a 3-1 away win on a rainy night in Georgia, Germany continued their seemingly remorseless rise back to the top table with a 4-1 walloping of Slovakia in Bratislava and World Cup finalists France rebounded from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat by Scotland to beat Faroe Islands 5-0.
Scotland suffered a reaction to their glorious Saturday by losing 2-0 away at Ukraine — though they retained the lead in Group B by virtue of their head-to-head record with the French.
Elsewhere, Wales and the Republic of Ireland saved face — and perhaps their respective coaches’ (John Toshack and Steve Staunton) jobs — as the Welsh beat Cyprus — 5-2 victors over the Irish on Saturday — 3-1, while the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 at home to Euro 2004 semifinalists Czech Republic.
England’s defeat, though, was the standout result of the night as McClaren’s decision to play 3-5-2 — in response to the underwhelming 0-0 home draw with Macedonia on Saturday — came off distinctly second best to Croatia and their coach Slaven Bilic.
Goals by Edouardo Da Silva and a desperate own-goal by Gary Neville — who had never scored for England before but probably would have preferred not to get off the mark in this fashion — did for England.
However, McClaren, who took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup, was not going to hide behind his players over excuses for the defeat.
”It was my decision to change. We’ve lost the game so obviously the tactics did not work,” he said. ”The team tried and the players did the jobs they were told to do. It has not worked and we have lost the game.”
He also accepted in admirable style that he expected to get a full blast from an English media, never shy about attacking England managers, and especially from those who don’t believe he deserved the job in the first place.
”It is part of the job,” McClaren said.
”I have been around the scene for five years and I know what it entails. I pick the team, pick the tactics, the shape to win a game. If we win I accept the plaudits. If we lose I accept the criticism. That is part of the job.”
Bilic by contrast was happy to let the praise descend on his players.
”As my colleague Frank Rijkaard says, coaches might prepare the team, but it is the players who win the game and all 14 players worked as one to get this victory,” said the former Croat defensive great, who was part of the side that reached the 1998 World Cup semifinals.
Another former playing great, Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, also praised his players after their victory, made considerably easier with the sending-off of Jaba Kankava on the hour.
However, Donadoni, who was a member of the Italy side that lost in the 1990 World Cup semifinals on penalties and to Brazil in another shoot-out in the 1994 final, played down the Scottish defeat and focused on his team who, with Ukraine and France in the group, still face a tough task to qualify.
”To come here and get a result may seem easy, but easy it certainly wasn’t. In fact there were times when we really suffered,” said Donadoni.
”We did well to stay patient and win the match, even if the sending-off did give us an advantage.
”I have to congratulate all of my players. They were good enough. As always there are things that we can improve on, but the spirit was right. Now we look forward with confidence.”
Germany were in rampant form as they made it three wins from three, drawing to within a point of group leaders Czech Republic with a game in hand.
Chief inspiration was Polish-born striker Lukas Podolski, who redeemed himself in exemplary fashion after being sent-off in a friendly last Saturday by scoring two of their goals.
”We have continued where we left off at the World Cup,” said 21-year-old Podolski, who took his tally to a pretty impressive 23 in 38 internationals.
”Slovakia are a tough team to play on their own turf but we started so well and took the game to them. We were clinical in front of goal and I was glad to grab a couple of goals.”
Another striker to get a brace was France’s David Trezeguet, who put aside his poor display against the Scots to gain a morale booster, albeit against the amateurs of the Faroe Islands.
France’s sphinx-like coach Raymond Domenech was more than satisfied with the manner in which his players had responded to the Scotland defeat.
”I would have been even happier if we’d kept a couple of goals for the Scottish, but yes, this game was good, and I’m happy. There were chances, good play, goals, and on top of that all the strikers scored.”
How McClaren would wish that would have been the case for his forwards. — AFP
