Gary Mabbutt says failing to qualify for Euro 2008 will be devastating.
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Gary Mabbutt told Sky Sports News that failure to qualify for Euro 2008 would be devastating for England.
Wednesday's 2-1 defeat in Russia left qualification for outside of England's control and Mabbutt said a 'crazy five minutes' cost Steve McClaren and his team.
"It would be devastating," said Mabbutt. "Everyone expected us to qualify. Throughout the campaign we've had a few problems and a few poor results, but I think we all believed we were still going to qualify.
"I still think we will though - you've got to keep positive. For all England fans this morning is a big disappointment. We were in control of the game and our own destiny until that crazy five minutes
"We frustrated Russia and defended well. The game plan looked to me to be working."
Mabbutt was taken by surprise by the defeat as England had the form to go to Russia and complete the job. That they failed to do so having taken the lead, only added to his dismay.
He said: "Personally I thought it was a mere formality that we were going to qualify. I was thinking of all the positives over the last six games; we had scored 16 goals, not conceded any and put ourselves in a great position.
"That was the biggest disappointment. We scored the goal, we were in total control and we had contained the Russian side. "
Mabbutt, who played 16 times as centre half for England, admitted that Steve Gerrard's first-half miss after Wayne Rooney had given England the lead was a chance to kill the game.
"In the context of the game it was a gilt-edged opportunity, he said. "All he had to do was hit the target. From that range, anything with any pace would have hit the back of the net.
"It was a great chance and it would've been 2-0 and game over, but if you don't take your chances you leave yourself open."
The former Spurs defender was also disappointed by the nature of the second goal, saying goalkeeper Paul Robinson should have done a better job dealing with the first shot that was parried but was fired in on the rebound.
"It was a shot with power but I am sure Paul will be disappointed," he said. "He will feel he could've pushed the ball a bit wider away from the attacker, but he will have also expected a bit more help from Joleon Lescott and maybe Sol Campbell.
"You always have to follow in on your own goalkeeper and expect your goalkeeper to make a mistake. As a defender you have to suspect that is going to happen and be there to clear it."
