'England don't deserve it'

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Last updated: 15th November 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

'England don't deserve it'

Hiddink: Insists Russia have been more consistent than England

If we analyse this group and the teams, then England do not deserve to qualify. Russia have been consistent.

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Russia boss Guus Hiddink insists England do not deserve to qualify for Euro 2008.

Steve McClaren's men will be all but eliminated from reaching next summer's finals if Hiddink's side win their qualifier in Israel on Saturday.

The Dutch coach believes it is "impossible" that his players will not take the three points in Tel Aviv.

He said in the Daily Express: "I am calm and relaxed. We know that if we win then we will qualify for Euro 2008. It is as simple as that. It's in our own hands.

"I am not worried. I am fully focused. For me, this is the equivalent of a World Cup final. We have been through so much in this group as a country that it would be impossible for us to fail in Israel.

"If we analyse this group and the teams, then England do not deserve to qualify. Russia have been consistent."

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Success

"You judge success as to who qualifies. If we finish above England then no-one can say we don't deserve it. It was not a freak or a one-off."

Hiddink revealed last month's win over England restored his players' belief, shattered after September's 3-0 defeat at Wembley.

He said: "They are ready to make every last sacrifice because they believe anything is now possible after beating England.

"They realise now that there is not a big difference between the squads of England and Russia and that money, name and fame do not come into it."

He revealed his gameplan for Israel, saying: "We will go there with nothing else on our minds than victory and we will fight until the end. I have told my players to dominate from the first minute. That is the kind of football we need to play."

Comments (35)

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Khalid Khalid says...

Actually, if you look at the calibre of players who have come out to the defence of Mac as England coach, you will see the names of "veterans" who fear that a new regime will likely experiment with new blood (expecially if england, as predicted, fail to qualify) since they will have nothing to loose and less pressure on their hands. Get rid of the Neville's, the Bechams, lampard's, Fedinards, owen's etc and give deserving players a chance! (not ex-club players like Downing who have had too many chances to prove but dissapointed!)

Posted 06:02 15th November 2007

Khalid Khalid says...

(An Arsenal fan) Although I don't agree with Hiddink on his assesssment as to who deserves more to qualify (since football is not just about passion, luck and bad referee's decisions), I still agree that England should go for a different approach. how about a new (daring?) coach who would experiment with new talented blood and forget the predictable line-ups of has-beens!

Posted 05:53 15th November 2007

Simon Travis (coventry city fan) says...

Hiddink is either a complete idiot or he is talking tounge in cheek. He knows as well as anyone how lucky Russia were at home, the ref must be getting free vodka and caviar for life! As for his team being more consistent than England, I doubt they could gain promotion from our Championship. England should accept that football is now like the Eurovision song contest and if a European referee has a chance to make a judgement against us then invariably he will do. Agrentina '98, Portugal '04 spring to mind when perfectly good goals that would have seen us progress were inexplicably disallowed but there are dozens more incidents over the years. Who could ever forget the Ronald Koeman farce in the '94 qualifying campaign which Graham Taylor ultimately paid for with his job. Just too many incidents to be just coincidence and, as I said before, Hiddink surely knows Russia are the latest to benefit. Despite all this I remain an optimist, Macedonia and Israel to both win on Saturday followed on Wednesday by England thrashing Croatia to win the group, mind you Hiddink would only say we didn't deserve it! Really miss Sky Sports now living in Oz, Foxtel an adequate alternative at best.

Posted 01:27 15th November 2007

Jimmy Kay (Chelsea fan) says...

Why are all these Arsenal supporters emailing their opinions about the national team...they are not qualified to comment. As a club they are more responsible than anyone for Englands demise...cheers Arsene

Posted 15:03 14th November 2007

Ian Jolly (Arsenal fan) says...

Lets face it, the Ferdinands, Robinson's, Lampards and other big time charlies in the England team do not deserve to play in Euro 2009, they're just not good enough and not worth the money and admiration that everyone gives them, especially after their lack lustre performance in Russia. They don't have the passion.

Posted 13:53 14th November 2007

Tom Williams (Crewe Alexandra fan) says...

The Scottish cant comment about underachiving, they havent been to a major competition for years and they wont make the Euro's. France and Italy have been poor but they will both get there. Every England supporter knows we havent been good enough and like Stevie G said its will be the players who shoulder the blame, at the end of the day McClaren should never be in charge of England he just isnt good enough. He was working under Sven for 5 years so no fresh ideas were brought in. SACK MCCLAREN BRING IN O'NEILL

Posted 13:45 14th November 2007

Moh Has (Arsenal fan) says...

Gus is right and who wouldn't agree with him after the way England have been playing throughout the whole tournement. Even if Engalnd did qualify, it'll be the same story as the World Cup 2006; Underperforming, lack of goals and boring football.

Posted 13:32 14th November 2007

Craig Cronin (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...

To some extent everybody is correct and you have got to agree with all of these comment's. we all know that if ericson was still incharge we wouldnt even be posting these comments the job would have been done by now. i think if i was a player the squade you would have to take a dame good look in the mirrow and buck up your idea's i dont think all the blame should be on Mc Claren he can only do the best he can the rest is down to the players and the supports remember the FA was the one that choose him nobody would turn the job down as England Coach even if you know your not good enough. England fans have been so negative over the last year the team have had to deal with alot of english critic and i think its about time we got behind our country, Mc Claren is only one man he cant take on 60 million people and a squad of 22 over paid tarts. Terry needs to lead the team on the pitch like what beckham did the rest is down to the manger and backroom staff. This will be a very big turning point for the FA and i dont see why Mc Claren should take all of the blame.

Posted 13:24 14th November 2007

Duncan Mckay (Arsenal fan) says...

Basically if you finish in the top two of the group, you deserve to qualify. If not, you don't! Everyone is going on about the penalty in Russia being a freekick, but let's not forget the perfectly good Russian goal at Wembley that England were fortunate enough to have disallowed. No-one deserves to make the finals on reputation, not Italy, France or England! You have to perform, and it's fair to say, the national team in general has let itself down. If England fail, it's their own fault, not any referees, and intelligent fans will realise this.

Posted 13:23 14th November 2007

Trevor Wood (West Ham United fan) says...

He is right. our players are more interested in selling copies of their autobiography, merchandising deals and brawling in night clubs than paying attention to football....and as for the second choice manager we have in place at the moment, please don't get me started

Posted 13:20 14th November 2007

Stuart Bond (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

Hiddink has never been shy about voicing his opinions ! Some of what he says is valid English players do lack motivation to play for their Country. Money speaks volumes. However did he not show the same arrogance before the game at Wembley ? lets hope he gets the same result against Isreal as he did that day. Who knows maybe his team are as focused on putting down England as he is and forget to worry about Isreal too.

Posted 12:56 14th November 2007

Michael Morris (Liverpool fan) says...

Looking at these comments, it's quite clear that Second Choice Steve has to go!!! The sooner the better, because I find it hard to support a nation that is managed by a Beckham loving, cheesy grin fool. The man has no clue. Though in his defence, the FA have a lot to answer for in this mess too. They're the ones who messed up with appointing the right man!!

Posted 12:53 14th November 2007

Andre Palmer (Manchester United fan) says...

I think England have good enough players and with the right person behind them should be among the top 4 in the world and then also be in a Europen Final, but McClaren, come on, he did one good season With M, ONE, that is it. I recently met the wife of the Ason Villa Chairman on a trip to Morocco, she was telling my a lot of interesting insights from FA and there is to many old people there, new young blood is needed. And honestly, does could anyone here say that they think that if Mourinho was leading England they would not qualify???? Either way I am glad to see McClaren fail becasue I am Swedish and I hated the way the press was towards Sven.......... That is what you get.....

Posted 12:48 14th November 2007

Dan Martin (Portsmouth fan) says...

Agree with Hiddink totally, but he needs to put his arrogance in check. Israel will want to spoil his day and it's certainly not impossible for them to lose. His players may just crack under the pressure of no longer being the undergogs. We'll see. They deserve to go through though. England have been below-par in the main and it's about time that a team more concerned with their national identity, pride and football itself got into a tournament than one concerned with financial gain. The European Cup is a celebration of the best football teams on the continent. It's not about what players are paid more and what teams have the most household names. I will be cheering for Israel on saturday but that's only because I have a lot more pride for my nation than all of the England team put together.

Posted 12:47 14th November 2007

Sach Sandhu says...

Hah! You have got to be joking, you actually believe that England deserve to qualify than Russia cos you beat them 3 - 0 at Wembley! So what? When this group first started, it should have been simple....very simple to be honest! I agree with Guus, England dont deserve to qualify for Euro 2008 cos they havent been good enough. Yes, i admit it will be a shame not to have them there as the Championship is all about the best teams playing against each other. England dont deserve to go through this group even by the off chance of Russia losing there next two games. No ones to blame except the players...they have no pride and fight in them.......

Posted 12:31 14th November 2007

Harry Harrison (Aston Villa fan) says...

In reply to John Hurn`s comment, Not all players are prima donna`s and most of the lads do want to play their socks off for England, I think that the last three games England played showed they can go out and win games with the best teams, and i feel players should be picked for their form not for their reputation.

Posted 12:10 14th November 2007

Phil Cook (Manchester United fan) says...

English through and through, and been a fan all my life, but guys let's drop the excuses. Manager not up to scratch, players aren't into it (well most current players anyway - at least give Beckham credit, he bleeds red and white). But in my opinion as your typical England armchair manager? Lack of consistency in the squad! And let's not blame injuries (all teams have them), but look at the top teams over the last two decades - Brazil, Germany, France, and - dare I say it - Italy, at least they have stuck with primarily the same players. Even Argentina are starting to look very good again by doing the same thing. Trust me F.A., its not just coincidence...it's a team game, not one for a group of individuals exhibiton - just ask Messrs. Beckham, Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Raul, Ronaldo, etc...

Posted 12:07 14th November 2007

Bryan Farmer (Norwich City fan) says...

I am old enough to remember when England thrashed Italy 10-0and were feared the world over, I know the game has changed a lot in the intervening period but the players of yesteryear wore an England shirt with pride. Rooney has tremendous skill and power, but not a patch on Tommy Lawton, our current crop of goalkeepers are rubbish compared to Swift,Banks or Shilton.and the same applies all over the park. Nowadays we can hardly tell the difference between them and the England womens team, in fact I daresay he womens team would do better

Posted 12:06 14th November 2007

Venesh Mahes (Liverpool fan) says...

Poor England. They just never fail to disappoint their loyal fans. The world's most overpaid underperforming team.

Posted 12:02 14th November 2007

Conor Moran (Celtic fan) says...

England have been underachieving for the past 40 years... and long may it continue!

Posted 10:23 14th November 2007
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