World Cup qual. - England's home discomfort

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?

2007 England Steve McClaren wally with the brolly - 0

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!

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 21 - 40 of 100

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  1. 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.

    From dannysbac, on Thu 9 Oct 7:53PM
  2. 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 @#$%!

    From Sean, on Thu 9 Oct 7:52PM
  3. 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

    From clinton, on Thu 9 Oct 7:51PM
  4. 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.

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:47PM
  5. I'm bored

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:41PM
  6. 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.

    From Tony, on Thu 9 Oct 7:36PM
  7. I agree with comments 24+25... good team pal. 4-3-3 would do the trick.

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:32PM
  8. 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

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:30PM
  9. 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.

    From Tony, on Thu 9 Oct 7:30PM
  10. lol... dannysbac. You really are a couch turd.

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:26PM
  11. 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.

    From Tony, on Thu 9 Oct 7:15PM
  12. Should have just stuck to lowly teams such as Sctchland, instead of including the likes of Germany and Hungary amongst our home defeats.

    From titus, on Thu 9 Oct 7:14PM
  13. 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.

    From Tony, on Thu 9 Oct 7:12PM
  14. 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)

    From yellybear, on Thu 9 Oct 7:08PM
  15. no problem, England will win and go to 9 points
    fak the kazak !!!

    From golf in the kingdom, on Thu 9 Oct 7:07PM
  16. 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.

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 7:00PM
  17. 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?

    From kathy, on Thu 9 Oct 6:55PM
  18. 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..

    From mean_maroon, on Thu 9 Oct 6:54PM
  19. Im missing your point toecuter are you an English fan or not?

    From anne_helm, on Thu 9 Oct 6:39PM
  20. come on Kazakhstan bring back owen

    From toecutter, on Thu 9 Oct 6:36PM
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