Russia 2 - 1 England

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This was the match that England had to win but they didn't. So it looks as though Euro 2008 will carry on without them. And what a carry on it is! In fact you could use it as the theme, for a Sixties type 'Carry On' farce, with Steve McClaren standing in for Sid James, in this comedy of errors!


Wayne Rooney was both the hero and the villain. When he scored, with a spectacular volley in the 29th minute, it seemed that England were on top, and on their way to a comfortable win. However, the goal was cancelled out in the 69th minute, when a penalty was awarded against him.


There is little doubt that Rooney was caught unawares, and that in trying to make amends hampered Konstantin Zyrianov, but it was not a serious foul and was outside the penalty area. A free kick would have been justified, but after a cruel injustice, Roman Pavlyuchenko scored from the spot, and sent the England squad into a state of panic.


Earlier Steven Gerrard had a chance to put England two ahead, with an open goal before him, and all the time in the world. However, the stand in skipper inexplicably pulled the ball round the outside of the post. Gerrard is normally very reliable, but this was not one of his better nights.


England needed to hang on, or preferably get another goal in the last 20 minutes, but it was Russia who looked the most inspired, as they forced a weak save from Paul Robinson. In fact he might as well have not bothered, as he palmed the ball to Russian substitute Pavlyuchenko, who accepted the gift, and slammed it home for the second time in four minutes.


England were falling apart, and it took McClaren a further six minutes to grasp the gravity of the situation. He sent Crouch, Lampard, and Downing, on in the 79th minute; in a last ditch effort to mount a recovery. It didn't work, and Russia got their own back for their earlier defeat at Wembley.


After the match, McClaren blamed the officials for an appalling penalty decision, but Guus Hiddink said it was fair dues, claiming that when Rooney scored the first goal, he was offside! England now have little chance of qualifying for Euro 2008, and it depends on what happens elsewhere. If Israel could earn a draw, or better, against Russia on the 17th November, England would be very grateful. But they still have to beat Croatia at Wembley, on the 21st November.


Ah well -There's always Rugby!


Tags:
Russia Vs England
soccer and football
Russia Vs England