There are plenty other reasons why England went pear shaped in Croatia, but I can;t help thinking Stevie Mac selected players completely unsuited to playing 3-5-2.

…or highlights, if you’re Croatian. Another dreadful performance from England, but a deserved win for Hvartski. Too depressed to discuss everything that was wrong with the Three-At-The-Back Lions right now, but once the crying stops I’ll offer up some thoughts…
Video after the jump:

Steve McClaren has gone 3-5-2 for the game against Croatia, after a last minute change of heart saw him revert to 4-4-2 against Macedonia. And we all know how that went. Rio Ferdinand returns after injury and joins Jamie Carragher and John Terry in a solid sounding back 3. It’s Ledley King’s turn to be [...]

Oh dear. That didn’t go very well at all did it? With a goalless draw against Macedonia, Steve McClaren’s honeymoon seems to be over. Rooney looked like he couldn’t trap a bag of cement, Macedonia looked very capable of scoring, Downing and Lampard are taking a fair bit of critcism.
Five minutes of video highlights here.
My [...]

Rumours are circulating that England will line up in a 3-5-2 against Macedonia, with Stewart Downing missing out. More here.

It will probably look like this:
GK: Paul Robinson
CB: The Neviller (G.)
CB: Rio Ferdinand
CB: John Terry
RWB: SWP
LWB: Cashley Cole
CM: Steven Gerrard
CM: Michael Carrick
CM: Frank Lampard
CF: Peter Crouch
CF: Wayne Rooney

In form Everton striker Andy Johnson has dropped out of the England squad with a hamstring injury, so Charlton’s Darren Bent has been called up to replace him, doing his now familiar last minute yo-yo between under-21’s and senior squad.

Steve McClaren has announced his England squad for the Euro 2008 qualification double-header against Macedonia (October 7th, home) and Croatia (October 11th, away).
Rooney is back after his suspension for organ-grinding, meaning a return to Under 21 duty for Darren Bent, and Scott Parker makes a deserved return thanks to Owen Hargreves broken leg.
Despite dropping [...]

Jonathan Woodgate has been doing the business in Boro’s defence recently, and Steve McClaren has noticed.
“Jonathan has always been held in high regard throughout the game as a fantastic centre-half,” McClaren told Sky Sports News.
“Unfortunate with injuries over the last few years but certainly he has got an opportunity to play again at Middlesbrough, [...]

The England blog is back and – much like the team – it’s under new management. Shawn was caught negotiating with a fake sheikh about writing another blog for more money, so here I am.