Croatia have qualified for three successive World Cups since Independence, reaching the Semi Final in 1998. It's a remarkable record for a nation of 4 Million. It could be about to end.
Croatia may have been resurgent under Slaven Bilić, qualifying emphatically for the EURO 2008 tournament, pimping McClaren's England along the way, but 2007-8 was a long time ago.

Click to continue reading...

As if the poor old corner flag doesn't already take enough punishment (from the likes of Tim Cahill), now some Dutch player comes along and uproots it. Ja, screw de cornervlag! Good to see that Schteve McClaren saw the funny...

Click to continue reading...

I've been on a leadership course today.
No - stop laughing - I have.
We looked at leadership models.
We did role plays.
We had group discussions.
And then all of a sudden, up on the screen at the front popped 4 faces.
This one. This one. Click to continue reading...

Schteeve van der McClaren gets some more stick for his phoney Dutch accent and his similarity to the Joker from Batman.

Click to continue reading...

Horror tackle from Holland Edgar Davids#8217; cousin, Lorenzo, is currently playing for NEC Nijmegen. Well, we say currently playing - he can expect to miss the next few games after picking up a red card in last night#8217;s clash with Schteeve McClaren#8217;s FC Twente. Lorenzo went in over the top with a nasty tackle that cousin Edgar [. Click to continue reading...

1. Spain wins Euro 2008
Spain cruised through their group stage matches with three wins and a +5 goal difference. After knocking out Italy 4-2 on penalties, Spain then defeated Russia 3-0 in the semis. Fernando Torres scored the winner in their 1-0 victory over Germany in the final.

Click to continue reading...

Schteeve van der McClaren gets some more stick for his phoney Dutch accent and his similarity to the Joker from Batman. Click to continue reading...

Because normal life isn't quite frustrating enough for me, a buddy and I spend 3-4 days a week coaching ten year olds in the fine art of how-not-to-fall-over-while-dribbling-a-ball (AKA – developmental youth soccer). Besides the occasional burst blood vessel and constant migraines, one of the more intriguing things to watch is the way that naturally talented players adapt to the game.

Click to continue reading...

A couple of days ago it was announced that our former Dutch hit man Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink finally retired from football. He's taken no time getting back into the game however, in a coaching role for McClaren's FC Twente. Click to continue reading...

When McClaren's England won 3-0 against Andorra many fans and pundits attacked the manager and team for not winning against a poorer opposition, tonight Cappello's England only managed a 2-0 victory.
So does this mean that once again that England will struggle and even fail to qualify for a major tournament? Click to continue reading...

Sven McClaren has named his squad for the crucial World Cup qualifiers with the surprise inclusion of Fulham's Jimmy Bullard. England start their campaign with a double-header against the mighty Andorra and Croatia on 6th and 10th September respectively. Click to continue reading...

McClaren's " let me become a respectable football manager again" dream had taken one step forward and then two steps back when FC Twente lost by two goals to Arsenal in the first leg.The dream took another 4 steps back yesterday as Arsenal completed a 4 goal demolition of his team.
Arsenal London vs Twente 4-0 goals

Click to continue reading...

Arsenal bounced back from last weekends Premier League defeat to Fulham with a superb win over Steve McClaren's FC Twente. Nicklas Bendtner started ahead of below-par Emmanuel Adebayor while Kolo Toure was dropped to the bench mainly thanks to Johan Djourou's previous performances in the side. Arsenal Starting XI Almunia Sagna - Djourou - Gallas - Clichy Walcott - [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal looked a shadow of their usual selves against Fulham at the weekend and Arsene Wenger and skipper William Gallas have both demanded urged for a ‘top-class' response as The Gunners seek to hold onto a 2-0 advantage over FC Twente and reach the group stages of the Champions League. Arsene Wenger promised a new signing [. Click to continue reading...

Schteeve van der McClaren gets some more stick for his phoney Dutch accent and his similarity to the Joker from Batman. Click to continue reading...

An astonishing leaked interview with former England boss Steve "Umbrella" McClaren has made it clear to British football authorities that the man they entrusted with England's dismal Euro 2008 qualifying campaign was in fact a Dutch spy, sent in to sabotage English football. The interview (shown below) is thought to have been taken when McClaren was [. Click to continue reading...

Last night was all about the result and on that basis nobody can have any complaints this morning.

Yes, we all know how light the squad is, we know how many players we had out injured, but there really is no need to cover all the old ground again. As expected we started with Ramsey and Denilson in the centre of midfield and I thought overall they did pretty well.

Click to continue reading...

Doomsday has arrived. At least that's what a lot of you seem to think, that the start of the season is a horrible time because Arsenal haven't strengthened enough and we'll never win another trophy. Personally though I'm really happy the real matches start tomorrow evening. We've got the 3rd round Champions League match versus FC Twente of the Dutch league, who are managed by Steve Mcclaren. Click to continue reading...

It's worrying times already for Arsenal and their fans and the season hasn't kicked off yet! Tomorrow afternoon the Gunners' kick off their Champions League campaign with a big-money qualifying game against Dutch side FC Twente. Arsene Wenger's side are missing the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri with long-term [. Click to continue reading...

It's worrying times already for Arsenal and their fans and the season hasn't kicked off yet! Tomorrow afternoon the Gunners' kick off their Champions League campaign with a big-money qualifying game against Dutch side FC Twente. Arsene Wenger's side are missing the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby, Kolo Toure and Samir Nasri with long-term [. Click to continue reading...

It appears that the club have made a decision over who to appoint as their next manager. Blackburn chairman John Williams has conducted a string of interviews with the likes of Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren and Michael Laudrup, although it seems he and the board have decided to plump for an up-and-coming candidate instead of [. Click to continue reading...

Will Steve McClaren, Paul Ince and Sam Allardyce be overtaken on the line by this dark horse, finishing fast on the rails? The Guardian report that Henk Ten Cate is back in the race to be the next Blackburn manager, with Rovers chairman John Williams jetting out to see the Dutchman yesterday, quizzing him [. Click to continue reading...

Blackburn chairman John Williams reckons a new managerial appointment should be made at the end of the week, and it's looking like one of two candidates at the moment. In the red corner, we have Sam Allardyce, good at Bolton and not given much time to be anything other than a failure at Newcastle. In [. Click to continue reading...

After The FA dumped boss Steve McClaren - and his assistant Terry Venables, many candidates added to The FA. Ex Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and ex Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello seems lead the way to take over McLaren position as the next England manager. However Terry Venables said that Fabio Capello ex-Real Madrid chief Capello is the best candidate for the job.

Click to continue reading...

It was always in the script. From the moment McClaren was appointed England boss.
So much hope and promise was rife amongst England supporters, including myself, after Israel pulled off a shock by defeating Russia. It seemed perfect. We couldn't have asked for anymore from Israel as Barda and Golan's names were toasted in pubs and bars across the country. Click to continue reading...

World Soccer News
for week of November 22th

Tradition smashed as England exit Euro
England's elimination from the European championship was the top story around the world: the foreign fans and the media respect English soccer far more than those at home and the failure of the Three Lions has been greeted with as sense of shock and awe. Click to continue reading...

European qualifiers
Greatest day for the English soccer. And England did not even play.
Ozren Podnar reports...
What a wonderful Saturday for the English soccer! England did not play, though, but Israel did, and Macedonia too. Not only one result went England's way on that glorious day, but two! Israel achieved an unimaginable feat of beating Russia by 2-1, when even a draw seemed unassailable; an hour later, the unbeaten Croatia finally succumbed to lowly Macedonia, who so rarely win a game at home (four in the last seven years, to be precise). Click to continue reading...

England's chances of qualifying for Euro 2008 now lie in the hands of their victors as Steve McClaren's men were defeated 2-1 away to Russia.
Their call for lionheart performances and Terry Butcher-esq heroics went unanswered, even after it had appeared Wayne Rooney had provided the moment of inspiration to win the match in Moscow.
Instead, it was a Russian substitute who turned the game on its head. Click to continue reading...

To say it's been a tough start to the season for the Tottenham goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, would be a huge understatement. A number of high-profile blunders this season has led to many supporters calling for the 27-year-old England man to be dropped for the international qualifiers against Estonia and Russia. A classic case of fickle fan syndrome perhaps, but there's no doubt that Robinson has a huge point to prove for both his club and country over the coming fortnight. Click to continue reading...

After England's convincing 3-0 win against Russia at Wembley two weeks ago, the general consensus was that the team were now right back on track for qualification for Euro 2008. The management, fans and media alike had all hailed the reunited pairing of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey upfront. For the first time in Steve McClaren's reign as England manager, the whole team looked balanced and both strikers played major roles in the win against Guus Hiddink's side, and the 3-0 win four days earlier against Israel. Click to continue reading...

- Sami Hyypia has been the latest star player at the club to vocally back his boss' rotation policy. The 33-year-old Finnish International has deemed Rafa's tinkering critics 'silly'. I've actually been thinking a lot about the pros and cons of Benitez' ways and will write a post with my conclusion later today. Meanwhile there are talks of Hyypia getting either a contract extension now or a new contract offer at the end of the season when his current one runs out. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard has undergone extensive medical scrutiny over his toe injury. The Reds captain had to have an injection before taking part in Liverpool's game against Chelsea. He has not taken part in any of his clubs other games before his call up to the England squad. England manager Steve McClaren has threatened to [...] Click to continue reading...

On one side you'll have the Three Lions of England without their best player, Steven Gerrard, along with other internationals Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves, all due to injury. Throw in the fact that their biggest star, David Beckham, probably won't play due to injury and fatigue, Michael Owen will only see the pitch for thirty minutes or so, and David Bentley was left off the squad as a form of punishment, you don't have much left over. Click to continue reading...

On one side you'll have the Three Lions of England without their best player, Steven Gerrard, along with other internationals Wayne Rooney and Owen Hargreaves, all due to injury. Throw in the fact that their biggest star, David Beckham, probably won't play due to injury and fatigue, Michael Owen will only see the pitch for thirty minutes or so, and David Bentley was left off the squad as a form of punishment, you don't have much left over. Click to continue reading...