After yesterday, McClaren will probably be looking to make like his hair, and recede.
The Daily Mail thinks that Jurgen Klinsmann (surely not a German!!) and Arsene Wenger (why would he leave his north London utopia!) have joined Jose Mourinho (thats more like it) in the chase for the best paid worst job in the FA. It was a night of disaster on plastic and grimacing in Georgia for England and Scotland, with the other elements of the British Isles already out of the running could all of them be out of Euro 2008?
With all the talk of plastic pitches it was easy to forget the non-synthetic element of human error which was so evident at the Luzniki stadium last night. Rooney’s first goal, his penalty giveaway, Gerrard’s miss from Barry’s free kick, and then the winning gaffe from Robinson, generously turning the other cheek on a Russian shot and palming it to another striker all had element of very human error.
Bullish McClaren was hoping it would be plastic fantastic but now England look like only an outside bet to qualify, they are reliant on the Russians failing to get a result against either Israel or Andorra. Stevie G said:
“It is important that we don’t give up. We are waiting on other people to do us favours…”For England not to make the finals will be unthinkable. But as players and staff we’ve got to take responsibility for that.””
The Scots, however, after losing 2-0 in Georgia can still claim to have their fate in their own hands, a victory over Italy at fortress Hampden will ensure that they qualify. Manager Alex McLeish said: “We’re disappointed but we are still in the picture and we go into the last game with a wonderful chance — and we know we can do it.”