Euro 2008 latest news

McClaren under fire from media after Moscow
















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By Martyn Herman
LONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - There was no hiding place for England
manager Steve McClaren and his players as Thursday's newspapers pulled
no punches with their angry reaction to a 2-1 defeat in Moscow the
previous night.
"Kick Him Into Touch" demanded the Sun's front page headline with
McClaren's head squashed inside a rugby ball -- a reference to
England's rugby team who will play in the World Cup final against South
Africa on Saturday.
The Sun's back page said it was "Iron Curtains" for McClaren while
an editorial inside said "England's pampered footie stars snatched
defeat from the jaws of victory -- and let down the nation yet again".
England had been winning 1-0 and on course for qualification for
next year's Euro 2008 finals but Russia scored twice within four
minutes in the second half to turn the match around.
If Russia beat Israel and Andorra in their last two matches they will qualify at the expense of England.
"Plastic Bullet" read the Daily Mirror's back page with a photograph
of England's Wayne Rooney conceding the penalty for Russia's equaliser
on Moscow's artificial surface.
It said England's hopes of qualifying, and McClaren's job, are now "hanging by a thread".
"Nyet Mare" continued the Mirror on its inside pages, adding that
England had been "torpedoed" by Russian sub, that being Roman
Pavlyuchenko who scored both his country's goals after coming off the
bench.
The Daily Mail described the penalty decision as shocking but said
McClaren was the "real villain". Inside it said "Game's Up For You Now,
Mac", saying that McClaren's world had disintegrated around him in four
second-half minutes.
It said that he had been outwitted by Russia coach Guus Hiddink and
blamed McClaren for sticking by goalkeeper Paul Robinson who was partly
to blame for Russia's second goal.
One Daily Mail columnist went even further, cranking up the numerous
military references by suggesting McClaren "had despatched a battalion
of gallant Englishmen to their inevitable slaughter in the old Soviet
heartland".
The broadsheets were just as damning of England. "Moscow Mauling"
said the Daily Telegraph, adding that McClaren's credibility was "in
tatters".
While Russia's penalty was harsh, McClaren's tactics were criticised
in many quarters. The Telegraph said he had got in wrong in the 2-0
defeat in Croatia last year and was again to blame on Wednesday for
playing too defensive after going 1-0 up.
The Telegraph also makes the point that should Hiddink guide Russia
to Austria and Switzerland, the Football Association wil have paid the
price for overlooking the Dutchman when selecting a successor to
Sven-Goran Eriksson.

I think I'll keep me gob shut

German coach Loew not concerned by Lehmann's Arsenal dem
















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BERLIN, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Germany coach Joachim Loew is not worried
about Jens Lehmann's demotion at Arsenal despite earlier comments
giving the goalkeeper a December deadline to become the club's number
one if he wants to play at Euro 2008.
"I'm going to take a look at the whole picture," Loew told German
sports news agency SID. "But basically I don't see any problem right
now because Jens Lehmann proved what a top class player he is in all
our international matches."
Loew said Lehmann had played especially well in the goalless draw against Ireland and the friendly win over England.


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