Pink Floyd sang it, and their nation’s national team showed it. England bowed out of the EURO 2008 tournament today, more than six months before it even began. It seemed the Three Lions had pulled off a miraculous comeback as Crouch evened 2-2, off a superb cross from Beckham.
But it was not to be as Croatia took the lead in the 77th and never looked back, 3-2. To me, the worst goal was the first, as rookie keeper Scott Carson spilled an easy save from Niko Kranjcar’s 25 yard shot.
No one is to blame but Head Coach SteveMcLaren, and the fact that he has not already resigned shows how clueless he really is.
So for the first time since 1994 England will miss a major tournament. Alexei Lalas had to have been celebrating as David Beckham will not leave the team for a long spell because of international duty.
Right after the game, Patrick Kinmartin and I discussed the defeat and the state of soccer in England.
No doubt that first goal was gross, and no professional keeper, especially the England National Team goalkeeper, should let that type of goal through in such an important game. I’ve got to admit, those two goals England managed to score just reminded me of some of the masterful soccer we are going to be missing from England’s squad next summer. Oh well…