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Well, that's it. England are out of Euro 2000. And to be honest, we didn't deserve to go through. We have been defeated twice by 3-2. That is not the performance of a team who deserves to progress to the next round. To put it simply, we weren't good enough. Apart from the first 18 minutes against Portugal, we didn't show anything to warrant a place in the quarter finals.

Today against Romania, we were poor, yet we miraculously found ourselves 2-1 up at halftime, completely against the run of play. We had an ineffectual midfield and a defence who seemed as if they'd never met before. To put it mildly, the halftime score was an embarassment. Did we learn from this and change? Like *&@$ did we. Within 3 minutes of the restart, we'd capitulated and let in the equaliser. For the second time in 3 games, we let a 2-1 lead disappear. Performances like that don't deserve anything other than elimination.

I've just watched the Jormans stuffed by Portugal resorves. That puts our performance into perspective. The only team we could beat were thrashed 3-0 by the second string Portugese. ngland are a spent force and we must start afresh. Of the current squad, the following have surely played their last game for England:

Seaman Neville G Neville P Adams Ince Wise Shearer

...and unless he improves dramatically, Heskey as well.

In a way, I'd say this was a blessing in disguise. Heaven forbid what might have happened on Saturday if Del Piero and his amigos had been let loose against us. And the hard truth is, we don't have a coach who on recent performances has the nouse to take us forward. Hard that it miht be for the FA, the only one around to do the job is Terry Venables.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

Answers

Sadly, yet again we were truly awful, and just didn't deserve to go forward.
It is difficult to believe that so many good PL players could perform so abjectly, individually and collectively, and with a difficult WC qualification campaign looming, it really is extremely worrying.
The only marginally positive thing to come out of tonight is that Alan Shearer goes out with 30 goals to his credit, and he will be remembered as one of the all-time great centre-forwards. Well done Alan, thanks for the memories.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

I'll second that Alan. On all counts. And what is worse, you can bet the Jormans will be smarting big-time when we come to face them on the WC. I know where my money would be on who recovers more quickly. I'm off the the (Scottish) bar to get p*ss*d. Bah Humbug. Nurse - get me a drink - and make mine a big one.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

Awful display, not sure what KK was thinking with the subs. I thought Owen wasn't doing that badly today. Better than the last 2 games, I think. Seeing Shearer so dejected at the end of the game killed me. The upside is he seems to have gotten through relatively unscathed and now has a few weeks to rest before concentrating on NUFC. :-)

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

Thanks for that timely, positive thought ciara - caused me to put the razor-blade down while I type a reply.
You're absolutely correct - AS has (hopefully anyway) come through the Euro2000 tournament without serious injury, finished his England career with 30 goals, AND get's a few weeks rest before pre-season training - SHEEEE...AR...ERRRRRRRRR!!!!
Goodbye, cruel World .............

BTW: (back, temporarily) what happened to the Red Sox against my team (the Yankees) the other day, 22-1!!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000


Shearer is a single minded bastard and will be so wound up for next season. I can't wait.

He has left on a relative high having scored a couple of goals and we can all be proud that he's ours till he has had enough. He should be off with Warren for coaching badges when the England games are on.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000



You've just about said it all.

This is the poorest England side I've seen in a long time. The biggest plus for me was Beckham, who pretty much maintained form throughout the tournament. Good crosses, found space and tackled back (sometimes). Looked really pissed off with Gary Neville's use of the ball. Also pleased that Shearer had a reasonable game to go out on. Passed to Ince for the penalty. Put a beauty of a pass through for Owen and of course, put the penalty away. Good use of the ball for the whole match (combined well with Beckham).

Ince tackled well but doesn't have the legs to last much longer at this level. Ditto Keown, who has been the pick of the defenders thoughout.

Definitley time to ring the changes. Lampard, Dyer, Ferdinand, Harley, Joe Cole (a couple of the Leeds youngsters if they're not banged up), a couple of left sided players (your suggestions please), joining Beckham, Scholes, Owen, Barry, Gerrard and whoever Shearer's replacement might be. I'm sure there's others - maybe even Griffin!

Start building now, even at the cost of qualification for the next world cup 'cos there's an awful lot of work to do.

I'm really not that depressed 'cos we just weren't good enough. I can't even get mad with Phil Neville (even though I was screaming at him not to tackle when they got in the box). Both Nevilles had a poor tournament and a poor game tonight.

Come on Holland!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000


Terry Venables ..... NO

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

Clarky...22-1?! Wow! Inever heard about that. But then I rarely pay attention to sports reports over here. Surprised I didn't hear the morning dj ranting about it, but then he freely admits he only jumps on the Red sox bandwagon when they look like going to the playoffs. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

The really scary thought is that if KK were to decide to take his toys home - always a possibility - there is nobody who automatically springs to mind as a replacement.
An even more scary thought is that sitting on an FA contract, waiting for just this possibility, is that toe-rag Howard Wilkinson - the man that hatcheted Peter Taylor who was doing such a fine job with the Under-21's.
Just who else is there? Peter Reid, John Gregory, Bryan Robson, Joe Royle??? That's how utterly desperate it is.
If it were to happen - and BTW, I seriously hope it doesn't - I fancy the FA might go for Arsene Wenger. They could do far worse - I've already named them!

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000

I thought Al had a fine game for his final international outing. Much better than against the Jormans I thought. Made the assist for the pen and might have had 2 or 3 other assists. Rarely gave the ball away unlike most of the rest of the team whose passing was quite appalling at this level.

Two goals in his final 2 games. What a shame he was unable to deflect that Beckham free kick in at the death. He would have covered himself in glory with that one. He'll just have to save himself for a brilliant season with United now...

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2000



Do any of you feel the same as me; it doesn't hurt that much, as Engerland were absolutely $hite?

I'm not being anti-Manure when I say / ask this; why can't their players (and that includes Becks.) perform even half as good for Engerland as they do for Manure? I can only surmise that it's because they haven't got their foreign, talented colleagues; Keane, Giggs, Stam, Irwin, et al to instill confidence in their own play. Even Wise normally plays well, when assisted by the talented foreigners at Chewsea.

England were totally lacking in creativity (not to mention basic skills!) and have no excuse whatsoever.

Big Al did the best he could - no supply, deja vu?

Until the Football League applies stringent quotas on the amount of foreign players, I see absolutely no hope for our national side.

I've just come back from South Africa, where England were desperately unlucky not to win the first rugby test (we should win the 2nd., at sea level), maybe the powers that be, at Lancaster Gate, could take a good look at the runnings of Rugby Union?

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000


I forgot to conclude (above); who'd have believed this, 20+ years ago:

Final Standings, Group A, Euro 2000.

1) Portugal = footballing 'minnows', but where to their players ply their trade?

2) Romania = footballing 'minnows', but where to their players ply their trade?

3) England = footballing superpower, but where do their star PL players come from?

4) Germany = footballing superpower, but where do the star Bundesliga (sp.) players come from?

The answer's so bleeding obvious, foreigners oot, and that's not being xenophobic!

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000


It doesn't hurt as I'm a United fan first and foremost. I like England to do well but am very reluctant to get emotionally involved. I get hurt too badly by NUFC!

Having watched most of the games in this tournament I thought there were 2 worse teams than England. I was wrong, there was only 1.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000


I can not believe that all the foreigners supposedly diluting the EPL is to be blamed for Englands loss, or lack of quality players. The way I see it is that most of the present international squad came through at the start of the EPL when there were'nt as many foriegners, or a youngsters who are playing for clubs despite the number of foreigners on the books.

Quality young players aren't being kept out of the EPL or it's teams. Secondly the foreigners make the EPL stronger, and the youngsters play against better competition each week.

Finally most of the England squad are simply shite. Like I was saying last week, waite for 5 years and you'll be good again.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000


Bud...the answer to your questionis this ... Man Utd are better than England.

We were shite. Crap. Useless. Tactically unaware. WGB had a good game I thought and so did Beckham. That's it. Two out of 11.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000



The thing for me was the total lack of teamwork.

After all this time you would think the players would know where to pass to each other. IE passes going ahead for players to run on to. One of the brothers Grimm was bollocking someone for not passing to his feet, yea right he should talk.

It should not matter that the team is the same every week or that the opposition will see how you play etc. Get a squad play them week in week out only replace the injured or obviously out of form.

Having said that we probably should have started with the other 11, including the 2 keepers!!!

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000


I felt KK was trapped between 2 sides to be honest. he perhaps should have had the guts to drop Seaman, Ince, Adams, Shearer etc and build for the future, but he was never going to do that. he really has a carte blanche to sweep all that lot out now and start again. the pity is that dyer, rio etc weren't blooded in this tournament.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

I'm not sure I agree totally with the camp that says that we weren't good enough and that our technique is light years behind the rest. The fact is we didn't play well. I think the first game really knocked the confidence out of the lads..but we know the players are capable of passing the ball around with speed and accuracy. For some reason, we were absolutely shite at this during the tournament, apart from the first 15 minutes. Don't know why, but we were. Couldn't keep hold of the ball and passing and movement were inept. I suspect a complete lack of confidence of other players in the defence, and the defence in themselves. The Nevilles never felt they could venture forawrd, and neither did Campbell. Scholes, Shearer, Wise and Beckham spent too much time worrying about defensive frailties and helping out at the back, when more movement around midfield and further forawrd would have allowed the passing easier - if they could be confident of Ince and the defence passing accurately. But a vicious circle entails, whereby possession is lost due to a bum pass and confidence drops even further. ie everybody was trying to do everybody else's job.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

All I can tell you Windy is that this is by far the worst England team I've seen in almost 40 years of watching them - last night they were totally and utterly clueless - actually, embarrassing. As far as I'm concerned any other comment would simply be nit-picking.

-- Anonymous, June 21, 2000

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