World Cup qual. - How to qualify: the English way

Eurosport - Tue, 08 Sep 18:42:00 2009

Fabio Capello's England will book their place at the 2010 World Cup if they beat Croatia.

2001 England Teddy Sheringham David Beckham - 0

If they do so, it will be the first time England have clinched qualification for a major tournament with a win since 1988.

The most recent five tournaments are listed below, additionally England qualifed automatically for Euro '96 as hosts, failed to reach the 1994 World Cup and sealed their place at both Euro '92 and Italia '90 by drawing in Poland.

It has been a while since England successfully reached a major finals, so let's look at how they sealed their places at the last five tournaments. Euro 2008 is omitted for obvious reasons, but let's not dwell on that...

Tournament: World Cup 2006

How they did it: Watching Netherlands beat the Czech Republic.

Poor old Sven. By the end of the Swede's tenure qualifying had become so routine that people actually complained he had taken the fun out of it. Then Steve McClaren reminded us what an interesting campaign is like. Having beaten Austria at Old Trafford, England were spared the bother of having to do the same to Poland when Holland's victory in a different group ticked some obscure box or other and England's place at the World Cup was guaranteed.

In a word: Underwhelming

- - -

Tournament: Euro 2004

How they did it: Drawing 0-0 away to Turkey

This was a spectacularly ill-tempered encounter, with most of the bad blood centring around David Beckham's bizarre penalty, skied high over the bar. The England skipper's miss provoked a flurry of taunts, mostly from then-Aston Villa defender Alpay Ozalan, who was subsequently hung in effigy from a lamppost and had to leave the country. Another highlight was Turkish keeper Rustu Recber rushing 40 yards to kick Kieron Dyer in the head. Given Dyer's injury record, it is a wonder he was not decapitated.

In a word: Lairy

- - -

Tournament: World Cup 2002

How they did it: Drawing 2-2 at home to Greece

This was the game that confirmed David Beckham's elevation to 'national treasure' status. The signature moment of modern-day England football came at the end of a truly dreadful performance. England, seemingly unable to cope with grass approximately half a millimetre longer than normal, needed a point to qualify but trailed 2-1 in injury time. Beckham - by far England's best player on the day - had missed a number of free-kicks but made his last attempt count, curling it into the top corner and sending a nation bonkers.

In a word: Epic

- - -

Tournament: Euro 2000

How they did it: Losing 1-0 at home to Scotland

Having already finished nine points behind Sweden in Group 5, Kevin Keegan's side lucked into a play-off against the Auld Enemy. After winning 2-0 in Glasgow their place in the finals appeared secure, but only an inspired performance from David Seaman spared them from humiliation. Don Hutchison secured Scotland's first win at Wembley for 18 years and Seaman had to be at his best to make a double save from Hutchison and Christian Dailly. It didn't bode well, and England duly went out of Euro 2000 in the first round.

In a word: Ominous

- - -

Tournament: World Cup 1998

How they did it: Drawing 0-0 away to Italy

Glenn Hoddle's side went to Italy needing a point to qualify, and showed no inclination to play the sort of free-flowing football promised by one of England's great entertainers. This was about grit and defiance, a point emphasised by Paul Ince, whose bloody and bandaged head brought back memories of Terry Butcher eight years earlier. Paul Gascoigne said Ince looked like a pint of Guinness. England stood firm as Italy lost their cool and had Angelo Di Livio sent off.

In a word: Gutsy

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. YES indeed that world cup tradition of the 70s when­ england qualified for the 74 and the 78 World Cups­ along with Scotland.........oh no thats right they­ NEVER DID THEY? No infact they O stayed at home.But­ tell me how did yous do in the 94 WC? and tell me­ something have yous ever won a WC away from home? and­ have yous ever won a EC...................so shutupa­ your faces We the ITALIANS RULE YOUS! we dominate yous­ 100% we win WC away from home because we have CLASS and­ above all ability. ENGLAND are SH-ITE.

    From dan dan, on Wed 9 Sep 5:01PM

  2. 2010 Headlines ENGLAND/Italy get beat in semi finals by­ 100% Brazilian team.The brazilians say "hey we­ dont need a foreign coach as we are a pure football­ team 100% Brazilian!.The joint venture between ITALY­ and ENGLAND fails but as the english dont have a proper­ english coach to choose they decide to keep the­ ITALIAN.

    The world fans chant "YOUS CANNY DO IT­ ON YOUR OWN".

    From dan dan, on Wed 9 Sep 4:54PM

  3. Dooooooooooooooooooo you love?­ horse????????????????????? I am a pr etty woman who?­ loves horse very much and i love to meet someone spe?­ cial who loves horse, too. I recently joined?­ ~~~RiderCup id, c om ~~~ becasue i just heard that it?­ the best, largest and most effective site for si ngle?­ horse lovers and friends in the world! I just want to?­ try it out.

    From skle8s4jlsdio, on Wed 9 Sep 3:58PM

  4. England to qualify, the jockos to stay home... I love­ world cup traditions !

    From doc_scrumpy, on Wed 9 Sep 1:18PM

  5. Dan Dan, 1. ''joint two country­ venture''....last i checked there wasnt an­ italian player in the england squad lol! & 2.­ ''ENGLAND NEED ITALY for­ success''....what are you smoking, england have­ had success because they played ok due to coaching (a­ slightly easier group may also have helped lol),­ capellos nationality has nothing to do with it, he is a­ good manager end of. Just my opinion!!

    From Mike, on Wed 9 Sep 12:47PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The england team set up is 50% italian and 50%­ english.Should they win the WC then it will be a joint­ two country venture therefore tarnishing a nations­ outright claim on a pure win.ENGLAND NEED ITALY if they­ are to have any success.We italians will assist your­ poor nations football ability.

    From dan dan, on Wed 9 Sep 11:02AM

  7. You're getting ahead of yourselves there you­ presumptuous twa*s

    From Jake N, on Wed 9 Sep 7:37AM

  8. Andrew G. you are a total @#$%

    "There should be a­ british team" - i thought u said u had football­ knowledge

    If u are saying the english team are so bad­ that u want to replace some of them with welsh northern­ irish and scottish players?

    no offence to the welsh­ northern irish or scottish but please why dont u with­ your football knowledge please explain how players from­ those countries could possibly improve the english­ team

    I think you should go back to LaLa land please­ refrain from opening your mouth as every time you open­ it you make yourslef look even more stupid

    From peteandphoenix, on Wed 9 Sep 12:56AM

  9. 47

    are u a na.zi?

    because the words dueschland­ dueschland uber alles hasnt been a part of the german­ anthem since 1945 when the germans had their arses­ kicked in the war

    From peteandphoenix, on Wed 9 Sep 12:32AM

  10. Andrew G not being cocky but i know way more about­ football than you and you can't garantee that they­ will be out at the quarter finals cos anything can­ happen in football and if they do go past the quarter­ finals then don't be suprised

    From Eucledes, on Tue 8 Sep 10:03PM

  11. I actually support the most successful British team­ ever, including home nations teams you stupid people.­ England fans are all Londoners and Man Ure fans, and­ all `lower league`. You will all be burning your stupid­ flags after the quarter finals, and yet again I will be­ proved right. As for you all saying I don`t support my­ country you failed to read my comment fully, because­ thats how stupid you are. I was proud to see things­ like Kelly Holems winning two Golds for Britain, I love­ it when Andy Murray wins at tennis, I watched and­ supported England winning the Ashes..you see because­ these `lesser paid` sports show the true meaning of­ pride. England seem to have this god given right in­ football to be in the easiest qualifying group­ availablw, what right? they won one trophy and yet­ again that will be broadcast all through the­ summer!!...be real, be football fans, and you all know­ the tournaments are much better quality without England­ in, they lower the tone. I AM patriotic when it counts,­ when it really means something...when it`s NEEDED and­ DESERVED...and while I`m at it..the `god save the­ queen` anthem is the most dreadful mind numbing dirge­ ever , that would never inspire a team to win­ anything!!...The only decent team they played in the­ qualifiers was Croatia..and they had 10 men and­ kranjcar and eduardo missing...when they had a full­ team they smaacked their arses last time­ round...England has played 3 decent teams..the czechs­ and the dutch 2-2/let in stupid goals..as usual...and­ the spanish..couldnt get the ball off them....do u­ really think brazil and all the other world class teams­ would let England off so lightly...GET SOME FOOTBALL­ KNOWLEDGE..WATCH THROUGH FOOTBALL EYES AND NOT STUPID­ ST GEORGE FLAGS..WE ARE A EUROPEAN NATION NOW..THERE­ SHOULD BE A BRITISH TEAM, IT MIGHT WORK BETTER, 3 LIONS­ IS A LOAD OF @#$%...STEVIE G PLAYS GREAT FOR­ US..LAMPARD GREAT FOR CHELSKI..AND EVEN MONKEY BOY­ ROONEY FOR MAN URE..PUT ON THAT WHITE SHIRT AND IT­ SAYS` PLAY @#$%` LOL

    From Andrew G, on Tue 8 Sep 9:37PM

  12. comment #55 from 'Bob' i take my hat off to­ you, and your unflinching loyalty to English football­ you should be proud of yourself and i dare say knighted­ (minor sarcasm).

    From borisncfc100, on Tue 8 Sep 9:36PM

  13. Dan Dan, Shutupa ya face!

    From Ian, on Tue 8 Sep 9:30PM

  14. to Liam, sorry am I speaking too much about football­ knowledge for your moronic brain to understand..its not­ about supporting `your country` its about being­ realistic and not believing the hype, just like the­ beatles and oasis in music..greatest bands my arse...i­ have my own opinions and think for myself..i`m a­ football supporter not a glory seeker..i`m talking­ football not trading insults..u idiot..i`m 41, ive been­ around probably a lot longer than u, and england have­ won nothing sice i was born, so i know how it is..u­ sadly do not..one day you`ll learn

    From Andrew G, on Tue 8 Sep 9:27PM

  15. if england dont win tomorrow i will never whatch them­ ever again!

    From Bob, on Tue 8 Sep 9:22PM

  16. thought it was a game

    From Texas, on Tue 8 Sep 8:51PM

  17. as long as we ave got rooney we will be fine. he'll­ get 2 tomoz

    From kerryaaron, on Tue 8 Sep 8:23PM

  18. England cannota do ita themselves.They need our coach­ to win it for them.They ara no good.I think it is not a­ true win with a foriegn coah.AND donta tella me to­ Shutupa ma face.

    From dan dan, on Tue 8 Sep 8:03PM

  19. i think england have a good chance of winning the­ cup....not cos they are any good,but the rest are­ playing rubbish...germany(not been germany for a long­ time) italy(are struggling for­ form)argentina(struggling may not qualify)france(dont­ know why they play c rap)holland(ok but­ beatable)portugal(usually beat england but may not­ qualify) that leaves spain and brazil who are good­ sides but who says you have to face either...no doubt­ england have a chance with their foreign coach and a­ favourable draw but will probably get knocked out by­ russia

    From the truth, on Tue 8 Sep 7:51PM

  20. Listen you english NOB JOCKEY your national team will­ continue with their BIGHEADEDNESS as usual when the­ start a media frenzy about winning agian.Truth is yous­ are Shi-te as in Shi-te.The scots are realists and now­ the score where as yous had to bring europe/the world­ to make a leauge called the The Johnny Foriegner­ Premiership.Now stop yous SH-IT talking and enjoy the­ first 2 rounds in SA next year you fan of the numpty­ english 11.

    From dan dan, on Tue 8 Sep 7:50PM
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