Things just keep getting worse for England

Just when you thought Wednesday's disastrous loss to Croatia was as bad as it could get for England, now comes word that the defeat will cost them dearly when the time comes to draw groups for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

England has fallen to 12th in the FIFA World  rankings, which is only good for 10th in Europe. The top nine teams in Europe will be placed in a put for European World Cup qualifying. This essentially means that England could wind up in a World Cup group with any of Europe's top powers and in case you have forgotten, in European World Cup qualifying only the first place team in each group is guaranteed an automatic place (with second place group teams having to go through playoffs to advance)

So just think, England could theoretically wind up in a brutal World Cup qualifying draw and wind up also missing the 2010 World Cup just two years after missing Euro 2008. The nightmare keeps getting worse for England.

What do you think of this development? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[VictorM]

Couldn't happen to a more arrogant soccer nation.

[James]

Maybe they'll finally realize the FA's greatest come from every where but England. It's no knock on the English, but their sports culture is turning into the American culture of Free Agency in baseball, "biggest bang for the buck, regardless of the domestic state of the sport."

[onionsack]

I read about this a couple days ago. Apparently Greece jumped over England.

Fair is fair though, they lived off the top seed for a long time, like many of their top european counterparts. Now they have to really earn it like other teams.

Imagine them getting drawn with:

Italy
then 1 of the really good middle teams:

Serbia
Ukraine
Romania
or
Denmark.

[Felix]

Now the rankings reflect the quality of the team as well. It's about time everyone starts to realize this team isn't as good as it's hyped up to be.

[Tim]

Ouch.

They are clearly behind Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia and Czech Republic. I'm surprised that Greece is in front of England; I thought it might be Turkey in front of England.

[Alex]

If this had happened to northern ireland, would we still be talking about it? The English national team is overrated, and if they couldn't advance out of a group that saw Croatia and Russia advance, then they dont deserve to be in Euro 2008. As far as the WC is concerned, if they are as good as FSC and the English media make them out to be, then qualifying shouldn't be a problem even with a France or Germany in the group.

[Tim]

I just looked at the CONCACAF rankings and found Haiti ranked ahead of Costa Rica; that was surprising.

I'm also surprised of the gap in points between Mexico and US, which I expected to be much smaller.

[Dave Lifton]

That's good. England have gotten very favorable draws through being seeded over the years (2002 was an exception), and maybe now this will expose them for what they really are.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

I dont think its a lack of talent for Englands national team but a lack of structure and focus. I dont think they will find a coach subtible for them soon enough and its going to be a hell of a struggle.

[YankatOxford]

All depends on the manager. I think the big news in the U.K. is that Scotland secured a 2nd pot place, given their penchant for outplaying world class opposition recently,

I think they will qualify unless its Germany or Italy in their group. England will probably get drawn with Greece and destroy them, assuming they find a proper manager.

Capello seems to be the inside track man at this point, which means Beckham may yet again feature for the whites.

[Furia Yanqui]

Why the surprise that Greece is ranked over England? Who won Euro 2004? Who just topped a qualifying group that included a top 4 team in the 2002 World Cup (Turkey)?

The YankatOxford who predicts that Greece will destroy England is parroting the other Rhodes Scholars who think England's problem is the coach. England would be lucky to draw at Greece.

[siv]

england's problem is that everyone keeps talking about them. why?

[sean]

I think that you have to look at the quality of players that England have and think they can still qualify for WC2010. I think injuries really hurt them this cycle and that they lack a certain depth, especially up top, that other countries have. Furthermore their team rotation is very hectic and leads to no continuity of playing style. They need a more patient approach that rewards technique and tactics, not just the biggest names or those with the highest workrate (Wright-Phillips over David Beckham?).

[Tom]

The excuses for England keep coming.

Style over substance
Hype over reality

Outside of the Gazza era England have regularly been outplayed by more technical/tactical team for the last 40 years.

Their 1966 cup win at home also registered officiating that was S Korea - esque in their favor. Few bring thi sup, as well as the goal that didn't go in that won them that dubious cup.

Results say it all. Hopw they play says it all.

Just shows how well the hype machine works on the ignorant/uniformed/brainwashed masses.

[Steve]

Everyone keeps talking about the high quality of the English players. If they're such high quality how come they never show when they're not being propped up by a bunch of Spaniards (Stevle) ? Or Africans (Lamps)?

The Prem is the best but it isn't because of the English players. Just ask Arsene or Sir Alex.

And where is the demand for Englishmen outside of Britain. There only seems to be one leage that ones one of 'em: MLS.

[doug]

there is a really good article on how much money England is going to miss out on. Almost 600 million pounds during next summer. It looks bleak for England with the rankings and the money.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=484089&root=euro2008&cc=5901&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos3

[John]

England have enough talent to be competitive but are nowhere near as great as their fans and media expect them to be. The truth is, at least among the European nations, there is more of an NFL- like parity than ever before. So England are like the San Diego Chargers or the New Orleans Saints this year; teams that, based on the talent, should do better but don't for unexplained reasons.

This will be good for England in the long run; a good reality check is in order.

Ives, right now, assuming best players available, who wins a best of seven series, USMNT or England?
I give us a good shot.

[JKT]

IVES, Any chance of USMNT v ENG or Scotland this summer?

Put the game one the East Coast and its a sellout!

[manny]

Posted by: Alex | November 23, 2007 at 11:07 AM

he said it all. It's all part of the English hype machine that makes this a story.

England should honestly be lower down the totem pole than they are right now. They are criminally overrated and I could see them not making WC 2010 because they just aren't every good.

They have no goalkeeper. Their 'star' striker (Rooney) is about as effective as EJ on the international level. (look at the numbers) the one (Owen) who actually does score is constantly injured. Beckham is their best player (sorry Gerrard fans, Becks is still better internationally) and he is starting to walk down the other side of the hill.

They just aren't a very good side.

[Xiphosis]

I love seeing England get knocked down a few pegs.

Arrogant bastards.

[Mike O]

Well, if people want soccer to be a "world" sport this is one of the consequences. The country of the sport's origin, England, is being overtaken by the rest of the world. Like economic globalization we cannot pretend that one country can just assume its place in the world without an increasingly competitive and difficult fight. It's happening to the U.S. in basketball (this crop of the "Dream Team" will probably be the last to dominate the world stage and they're actually TRYING). This just opens up the field further and allows more countries to establish their traditions internationally (hello, Croatia).

[Joamiq]

I do not at all buy the argument that the Premiership has too many foreign players. There's more than enough English talent there for the team to be able to qualify for Euro 2008. From day 1, McClaren did just about every possible thing a manager could do to kill his side's chances. What a buffoon.

[Tom]

Mike O,

With all due respect all you need to do id compare England's matches and results and Croatia's over the last 8 years.

If you looked at them without the country name known it would seem pretty clear who has been better.
Guess what? It wouldn't be England.

England has missed 3 major championships in the last 15 years. Two WC's and a Euro. True powers don't do that, even with sub par teams - Germany and Italy say hello.

For all the talk of parity the big coiuntries still qualify with the same grief as before. The difference is that more middle teams can surprise and qualify while there were less before.

England has shown that missing big tournies isn't that unusual for them.

Now, if Italy, Germany or even Spain (yeah they underperform in the tournies, but not in qualies)miss out, it would be a surprise.

If you truely understand English soccer and it's history this isn't some "other wordly shock".

The insanely delusional and over the top avergae ENglish fan and media may be shocked. They market and advertise here and you understand the language so all you hear is the propaganda and ridiculous over hype and bias. On the continent it ain't that big a deal, and it isn't that big of a surprise and most don't respect the Englaih footballer much. Fact.

Many say nice things, unlike 15-30 years ago because why would you insult the place that could pay you the most.

In reality it's only th English, soccer ignorant and the media brainwashed who don't get it.

[Tom]

I meant results over the elast 10 years. Sorry.

[John]

Sounds like England could use Bruce Arena. Experienced international coach, good at qualifying, tolerates no insubordination.