Eurosport - Fri, 10 Oct 09:17:00 2008
Kazakhstan are ranked 131 in the world and have nobody you've ever heard of. Surely England can't slip up at Wembley on Saturday. Can they?
Eurosport-Yahoo! attempts to ward off complacency by plumbing the depths of England's murky past to find the worst home performances of all-time.
The conclusion? No matter how mediocre the opposition, England can cock it up big time. Fabio Capello beware.
England's roll of shame
England 0-2 Ireland - Goodison Park, 1949
This was England's first home defeat to anyone outside the UK and set the trend for decades of failure to follow. Walter Winterbottom's men made a dominant start but failed to score, then sat back and got walloped. Con Martin scored the opener, Peter Farrell finished the job five minutes from time.
England 3-6 Hungary - Wembley, 1953
"Look at that little fat chap," said one England player as they lined up for the anthems against the Magyars. "We'll murder this lot." The little fat chap was Ferenc Puskas, and it was he that did the murdering. Puskas scored twice, Nandor Hidegkuti grabbed a hat-trick and England were humbled. Hungary, it turns out, were good.
England 1-1 Poland - Wembley, 1973
Brian Clough never got the England job, but got some revenge when he infamously called Polish keeper Jan Tomaszewski "a clown" before this must-win 1974 World Cup qualifier. The thing about clowns is they have big hands, and Tomaszewski used them to great effect, ensuring England did not qualify.
England 1-2 Scotland - Wembley, 1977
Of all England's home defeats at the Tartan Army (and there have been 18), this is probably the most humiliating. Goals from Gordon McQueen and Kenny Dalglish secured the Home Championship and the visiting fans celebrated by ripping up the pitch and breaking a crossbar - which now resides in Rod Stewart's garden.
England 1-2 Uruguay - Wembley, 1990
Given how Italia '90 went, it is hard to recall the sense of depression that hung over England going into the World Cup. England produced a god-awful performance in their final home pre-tournament friendly against Uruguay. It was so bad it might have caused a riot had Wembley not been less than half full.
England 0-1 Germany - Wembley, 2000
Germany's visit presented England with the perfect chance to give the original Wembley Stadium a rousing send-off, but instead it descended into a soggy farce. Amid torrential rain, Didi Hamann beat David Seaman with a long-range free-kick and Kevin Keegan resigned during his post-match interview. Shambolic.
England 2-2 Macedonia - St Mary's, 2002
If there really are 'no easy games' left in international football, it's only because of the major countries' rank incompetence. David Seaman had a nightmare, England trailed twice and then, having drawn level, spent a futile hour trying and failing to break through a paper-thin Macedonian back line.
England 1-3 Australia - Upton Park, 2003
Nothing hurts like a sporting defeat to the Aussies, particularly when it is a sport at which they are meant to be rubbish. England's capitulation came in humiliating fashion and featured 11 substitutions at half-time when trailing 2-0. Still at least Francis Jeffers got his international career off to a great start with a goal.
England 0-0 Macedonia - Old Trafford, 2006
Ah, this lot again. This was the moment when the nation realised Steve McClaren's appointment might not have been the masterstroke it appeared when England thrashed Greece 4-0 in a meaningless friendly. Even worse than the first Macedonia draw - England never even looked like scoring.
England 2-3 Croatia - Wembley, 2007
So awful for so many reasons. England should have been out already but Russia lost to Israel and gave them a lifeline. Scott Carson replaced David James in an all-too-literal sense as England fell 2-0 behind early on. Having pulled level, McClaren's men drew on fresh reserves of incompetence and lost the game all over again.
Follow live minute-by-minute coverage of England v Kazakhstan and all matches featuring Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland on eurosport.yahoo.co.uk!
Comment 21 - 40 of 100
SCOATLAND NEVER LOST TAY MACEDINIA YOUS ARE ALL TALKIN THRAY YAR BUMS. SCOATLAND ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS 1966 OR DID YAYS FORGET ABOOT THAT. IM A GAY ARAB FROM SCOATLAND BY THE WAY. AND I HAY NAY LEGS. BUT SHARE IT TAKS ALL SORTS AS THEY SAY UP HERE IN GLASGEE. GO ON RAN GARS EUROPEAN CHAMPS 2008.
Why would this article get brought out right before the game? Why remind the club about past indescretions? Seems like some people just can't wait for the team to slip up so they can point and say I told you so. Try supporting your team instead of just @#$%!
humm a strange thing is the England team we havent got the players anymore which is a shame. England have 3 world class players and thats where the problem lies never mind we can be happy when we get a lucky win or 2
that nothing to worry against the kaza, don't be proud even win them by big margin because they are not a strong team which england-u21 also can win them.
I'm bored
Theo doesn't play for Arsenal for a full game so why dose he get picked for England when there are buter players that play full time for there teams.
Jamie C was never picked cos of @#$% Cole in the side and only played when he was injued so lets pick players they paly all the time not part time.
I agree with comments 24+25... good team pal. 4-3-3 would do the trick.
This is directed to post #10... 'The problem with Scotland is it's full of Scots' Scots are even worse than England which says a lot mate. You lot lost to Macedonia last week so think before you speak. Or is your wee little brain in overdrive now? Norway 2 Scotland 1
Theo doesn't play for Arsenal for a full game so why dose he get picked for England when there are better players that play full time for there teams.
Jamie C from LFC never got a game unless WASTE OF SPACE COLE was out injued and this bloke yes he is good but if he don't play for Arsenal full time WHY does he get picked for the England team of is @#$% Winger paying the England manager to play him.
lol... dannysbac. You really are a couch turd.
Theo does play for Arsenal for a full game so why dose he get picked for England when there are buter players that play full time for there teams.
Should have just stuck to lowly teams such as Sctchland, instead of including the likes of Germany and Hungary amongst our home defeats.
Why oh Why do we have to have @#$% Cole in the side he is a glory hunter he is down as a defender so why doesn't he be a defender instead of glory hunting all the time and as for him tring to cross the ball what a waste of time that is he might as well say here you are have the ball as he is @#$% at crossing.
Why do we bother ???? allways we expect, but to be let down in major competitions everytime by a bunch of pre-madonnas, and why should they get paid to play for their country ??? it should be an honour for them (club football forever)
no problem, England will win and go to 9 points
fak the kazak !!!
Those results are in the past... why such negativity????? Can't you put a list of home victories we've had at Wembley over the years. You media can really be a bunch of wan kers. Shame on you all for writing and publishing such c rap.
This should be our team of the next 2 qualifiers (minus J Terry and J Cole)
James
Johnson, Brown, Ferdinand, A Cole
Lampard, Barry, Gerrard
Theo, Heskey, Rooney
Gotta go with 4-3-3 with this... what you lot think?
jamEs the Stopper,ferdinand the skipper,lampard the playmaker,gerrard the sHooter,wallcot the runner,heskey the Holder and lastly Rooney the finisher...we hope they can perform well..
Im missing your point toecuter are you an English fan or not?
come on Kazakhstan bring back owen
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