McClaren blasts ‘disgraceful’ ref
McClaren and his men saw their five-match winning streak in qualifying Group E ended by two goals in four minutes from Roman Pavluchenko.
Afterwards McClaren pointed an accusing finger at Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for the “disgraceful” decision that has helped to leave England on the brink of a humiliating failure to reach Euro 2008.
England were in front — thanks to a Wayne Rooney goal — and, in McClaren’s eyes, in control when Cantalejo ruled the Manchester United striker tugged Konstantin Zyryanov’s shirt inside the box.
Up stepped Roman Pavlyuchenko to level from the spot — and when he netted again four minutes later, England’s dreams were in tatters.
McClaren now knows if Russia beat Israel in Tel Aviv next month then Guus Hiddink’s men will qualify at the expense of his own side once they have completed the formality of hammering Andorra in Moscow four days later — on the same night England are completing their campaign against Croatia.
“It is an absolute disgrace,” fumed McClaren. “We were comfortable, and they were running out of ideas. If that penalty had not been awarded, I am absolutely confident we would have won the game. We were in total control.
“Because of one decision, we went from being in a winning position to losing.”
McClaren did not mention, however, the fact that the officials also failed to spot that Rooney was marginally offside when he sent his first-half opener arrowing into the roof of Russia’s goal.
Instead, McClaren is left pinning his hopes on Israel — who did hold Russia to a draw in Moscow earlier in qualifying, although that was at a time when they had some hope of reaching the finals themselves.
“Nobody likes losing games, and I certainly don’t,” he said.
“The players are devastated in the dressing room — but we stick together.
“This group is not over yet. It is out of our hands — but it is not over.”
Understandably, McClaren refused to get into any discussion over his future — or the outcome in Tel Aviv next month, given the two situations are inextricably linked.
“It was in our hands — now it is not,” he admitted.
“But Russia still have to go to Israel and win. The pressure is still on them. We just have to wait.
“As I have said all along, this group is decided over 12 games — not 10 or 11. Let’s see where we end up.”
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard claimed it would be “unthinkable” for England not to qualify.
The stand-in skipper said: “We were in control of the game, the game plan was working perfectly, we’ve gone 1-0 up and I’ve had a fantastic chance to make it 2-0 myself.
“Then we had a mad five to 10 minutes when the game has changed. The penalty for their first goal looked outside the box and has turned the whole game.
“It gave them a lot of confidence, put them on the front foot and they put us under a lot of pressure and managed to get a second.
“Even when they got the penalty, we should still have been strong and more together to see the game out.”
England play group leaders Croatia in their final match and Gerrard insisted: “It is important that we don’t give up. We are waiting on other people to do us favours.
“But as players we’ve got to stick together, focus and believe to the end.
“I can’t believe it is out of our hands because we have worked so hard over the last five or six games to put ourselves in the driving seat and make ourselves favourites to go through, especially after going 1-0 up tonight.
“You start believing you are nearly there, that you have got one foot there but football is a cruel game and chances and decisions and mistakes turn football matches and that is what has happened tonight.
“For England not to make the finals will be unthinkable. But as players and staff we’ve got to take responsibility for that.”
Gerrard admitted he should have done better with his gilt-edged chance from a Gareth Barry free-kick, which could have killed off the game.
He said: “It was one of those when I didn’t expect to have so much time and I’m waiting for an eternity for the ball to come down.
“I tried to get the best contact on it possible but it wasn’t to be and I’m disappointed.”
RUSSIA: Gabulov, Alexei Berezutsky, Ignashevich, Vasili Berezutsky (Torbinsky 46), Aniukov, Zurianov, Semshov, Bilyaletdinov, Zhirkov, Arshavin (Kolodin 90), Kerzhakov (Pavluchenko 58).
ENGLAND: Robinson, Richards, Ferdinand, Campbell, Lescott (Lampard 79), Wright-Phillips (Downing 80), Gerrard, Barry, Cole (Crouch 80), Rooney, Owen.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
