Czech Republic U21s 2 England U21s 1

Distraught: England captain Phil Jones trudges off as the Czech Republic celebrate

England crashed out of these championships in agonising fashion following the concession of two late goals that ensured the Czech Republic progress to a semi-final date with Switzerland on Wednesday evening and the Three Lions head home.

England took the lead through a fine headed goal from Danny Welbeck in the 76th minute, scoring his second of these championships, and the Three Lions looked set to go through at the expense of their opponents.

However, England were undone when Jan Chramosta prodded home on the edge of the six-yard box to equalize for the Czechs in the 89th minute.

Tomáš Pekhart sealed England's fate with a simple tap in following a counter-attacking move after Stuart Pearce's men had piled forward, leaving them exposed at the back.

Pearce, who has been surprisingly awarded a two year extension to his contract, said: "We probably felt we played better in this game than we did in the previous two games. Once you get your noses in front you hope to see it out but we were not dogged enough. Credit to the Czechs, they've shown great quality."

Although Pearce had a point, they did play much better in this match than the two matches that preceded it, England did not do enough throughout this tournament to be worthy semi-finalists, scoring just two goals in three matches.

Some positives can be taken, not least the form of Jones and Smalling at the back who seem to have built up a decent understanding and could be the central defensive partnership for many years to come, both at club and international level.

But this tournament will be littered with disappointment. New Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson looked out of his depth. Living up to the billing that Harry Redknapp gave him with his thinly veiled comment last week of "some footballers are going for 20 million quid who are not fit to lace Luka Modric's boots".

And Pearce himself didn't look entirely comfortable as he sought to fix England's on field problems, even receiving some words of advice from Fabio Capello following last week's draw with Spain. Tactically he was caught out and relieving Michael Mancienne of first team duties for the last game was too little, too late.

Miss-firing squad

It's a squad game these days someone once said. And Sir Alex Ferguson recently proclaimed this current squad to be his best ever. Better than the double winning squad of '94. Better even than the treble winners of '99. So, that being the case, where is it all going wrong?

The answer has been presumed that Sir Alex's confidence was miss-placed. However, perhaps the real answer lies in the fact that it is not necessarily a squad game. First elevens do actually win the trophies and not the reserves.

A lot is about timing it to perfection and in terms of having your first eleven available at the crucial time of the season when the wheat and the chaff are separated.

Just take last season, for example, both Manchester United and Chelsea had their first teams available and their benches were without absentees either. Memorably Park Ji Sung couldn't make the bench as even Louis Saha managed to put on a tracksuit without pulling a hamstring. The same could be said for Manchester United's final league game when their whole squad was available.


Then imagine that final last May without Ronaldo or Ferdinand or even Wes Brown. Would they have emerged triumphant?


Many talk about a lack of depth in Liverpool's squad this season, citing the fact that they can't cope in Gerrard or Torres' absence but there is no way Manchester United would win a significant trophy were there to be a prolonged absence for Rooney or Ronaldo.


The sooner the Red Devils can get their big guns back fit - Ferdinand, Brown (yes, he's a big gun), Berbatov - and their big guns who have been miss-firing - Ronaldo, Carrick, Vidic, Evra - back on form the better and perhaps Man Utd's season can be rescued.


I have a hunch that Wednesday night's return in Porto may see one of those special European performances to rival that of Roma at home in 2007 or Barcelona away in 1998 but I also had a hunch that Roy Evans would deliver Liverpool's first league for many years back in 1997... and they are still waiting.

When sports stars cry

Following Roger Federer’s tears in this year’s Australian Open we delve into the sporting archives to discover 10 sportsmen and women who’ve also been unable to control the waterworks.

10. Diego Maradona 1990

After winning the 1986 world cup single handed (pun intended) for a team that without him had less talent than Barnet’s reserves, Maradona was hell bent on doing the same trick at the following world cup in Italy. Sadly, the little cheat, sorry, I meant diminutive genius fell short of his dream after losing to West Germany in a final that will be remembered for instigating the back pass rule after Argentina tried to reverse their way into becoming world champions. Yes, a total of 3,457 back passes were recorded by the South Americans but these figures vary due to the fact that no man has yet been found who didn't fall asleep at some stage during the final. Anyway, I digress, having lost to an Andreas Brehme penalty Senor Maradona wept uncontrollably as the trophy was presented to West Germany.

9. Carsten Jancker 1999

Mario Basler salutes the travelling Bayern Munich fans, Lothar Matthaus is grinning from ear to ear and the Champions' League trophy has the Bayern Munich colours attached to it (conveniently they are similar to their opponents') but someone has forgot to tell the soon to be knighted Alex Ferguson's men. Two goals in stoppage time and Munich hearts are broken. Not only that, comically named Carsten 'rhymes with' Jancker cannot keep his emotions in any longer as Manchester United complete an incredible treble. Meanwhile, Jancker's only treble that night was of miss-hit shots.

8. William Gallas 2008

Ok so he didn't cry but his antics were more befitting of a child screaming and throwing their toys out of a pram than of a grown man who plays professional football for a Premiership side. This drama queen performance was more appropriate for a school playground but instead he chose Saturday the 23rd of February, aged 31 and Birmingham's centre circle to perform his theatrics. I know the French are known for there acting abilities but St Andrew's is not the place to perform in Moulin Rouge.

7. Mika Hakkinen 1999

Michael Schumacher had broken a leg and the only person left to contest Mika Hakkinen was the likable, but talentless, Irishman Eddie Irvine. However, a string of errors by Hakkinen and his McLaren team let Irvine in time and again. These mistakes included one by the flying Finn at the Italian Grand Prix whereby he spun out whilst leading. Hakkinen responded like any true man- he ran into the nearby woods and cried like a baby.

6. John Terry 2008

John Terry, or JT as he is more affectionately known, performed two memorable acts in last year's Champions' League final. Firstly, he missed a crucial penalty. Secondly, he wept onto Avram Grant's shoulder. Apparently, Grant demanded a new suit afterwards and, as a result of his cheek, was duly sacked. Nothing to do with the trophy-less season after all.

5. Oliver McCall 1995

When Oliver McCall became World Champion he was then deemed fit enough to fight Frank Bruno. What made McCall break down in tears that night is still not known to this day. However, it is believed that it was the thought of having to appear alongside our Frank in a pantomime performance that triggered the tears. "Oh no it wasn’t."

4. Michael Schumacher 2000

As Michael Schumacher approached his holy grail of delivering Ferrari's first world driver's championship since before the dinosaurs it all got too much for him and water began seeping from his eyes quicker than the oil from a competitor's engine after he won the Italian grand prix. Schumacher went on to win 7 world titles and become the most successful formula one driver of all time but he will always be remembered for his emotional breakdown in front of millions of viewers. Still, if you're going to cry, best to do it in Italy.

3. Jana Novotna 1993

From being in a certain to win position, Jana Novotna collapsed in a manner that would have made Kevin Keegan proud. After her defeat to Steffi Graf in the Wimbledon final she cried for longer than anyone can remember and the consoling arm of the Duchess of Kent could not do anything to halt her crying. Her tears were in such abundance that the famous Wimbledon covers had to be brought across the grass to keep it dry for the following day's men's final.

2. Alex Higgins 1982

Alex "hurricane" Higgins became Alex "torrential rain" Higgins as his tears ran down his cheeks at the Crucible theatre, Sheffield. These were tears of joy, though, from the Belfast born snooker legend. These tears worsened as he began to realised that closing time of the local bars had elapsed in the midst of the trophy ceremony.

1. Gazza 1990

Undoubtedly the everlasting image of Italia '90 was of Gazza crying after England's semi-final defeat to West Germany on penalties. It is a well known fact that the Germans are masters of two things, female under-arm hair and penalties. The latter has aided the Germans to many footballing victories, the former has not.

Taking the biscuit

You’re having a laugh - as professional footballers go, Carlo Cudicini has pushed the boundaries more than most as a cruise and collector.

When people talk of greed, laziness and a lack of ambition, many names and ideas are suggested but here is one for you. Would you please give a warm welcome to... Carlo Cudicini.

Let’s take a look shall we.

After initially being brought in on loan, by the then Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli, in 1999 the deal was made permanent in the year 2000 for a mere £160,000 and
he soon made the No.1 goalkeeping jersey his own with a string of imperious displays.

Cudicini gained a reputation for being one of the Premier League’s finest shot stoppers and was much admired throughout Europe. Several of Europe’s top clubs were linked with him but Chelsea stood firm and Cudicini appreciated the feeling of being wanted.

Son of a former AC Milan goalkeeper he finally appeared to be stepping out of his father’s shadow after a stop start career seemed to be heading nowhere back in his homeland.

However, in the summer of 2004, after the appointment of Jose Mourinho, Petr Cech was bought for £7 million and soon assumed first-choice goalkeeper status. Cudicini’s Chelsea career appeared doomed. It was especially disappointing after performing so well for the club he had never let down.

He was at a crossroads- either become the Premierships best reserve and pick up the occasional medal for which he had contributed little or seek pastures new and a new challenge, perhaps a few international caps too. Unfortunately, he chose the former.

The Italian has to be the epitome of lacking ambition. Possibly you could excuse the first year as an under study and to try to challenge Cech, after all he appeared to have the ability. However, it soon became clear that Cech was in an impregnable position.

Ultimately, Cudicini decided he would rather warm a bench than play football.

His decision to play second fiddle is a massive sign of insecurity. He clearly never believed in his talents enough to prosper elsewhere and that would explain his more inconsistent performances on the odd occasion he was called upon by Chelsea.

Who knows, maybe Mourinho sensed this lack of confidence. One of the special one’s first big decisions he had to make was to drop Cudicini. He seemed in little doubt and never looked back as Cech became arguably the world’s best goalkeeper (although that belief has deteriorated since Mourinho’s departure).

After five years of being little more than a Carling Cup player Cudicini has finally moved on but at 36 he has just a few years left in the game and what was a burgeoning career has petered out into something that Winston Bogarde would have been proud of.

Recipe for disaster

So the board of Norwich City approached Nigel Worthington to see if he wanted his job back.

Worthington is extremely fond of Norfolk and still spends a large amount of his time there when he is not on Northern Ireland duty.

He has done a steady, if not spectacular, job as coach of Northern Ireland but his work as the Canaries' boss was under appreciated at the time and it is probably only now that the board and fans are beginning to understand just how good he was. He was the guy who steadily improved the team whilst in the Championship, culminating in promotion as champions of the division in 2004.

Worthington's eye for a player was pretty accurate too. His astute work in the transfer market, either for loans or permanent deals, brought Peter Crouch, David Bentley, Dean Ashton, Robert Earnshaw and fans' favourite Darren Huckerby to the club. Oh how Norwich would love to be able to call on the services of just one of those players now.

It started to go wrong on the final day of the 2004/05 season. He had taken City to within a whisker of staying up after a remarkable run of victories, including a memorable 2-0 win at home to Manchester United, but on that final day they crumbled. Embarrassingly defeated 6-0 at Fulham and with it relegation.

The following 18 months saw them spend most of the time between mid table and the play offs but rarely threatening automatic promotion. After a defeat away at Plymouth, when the performance could be best described as 'limp', a letter to the fans was issued in the most appalling fashion, through the local press. Delia Smith and her husband Michael Wynn Jones issued a strongly worded statement that effectively gave Worthington two games to save his job.

Forget that memorable play off final where they missed out on promotion by the narrowest of margins. Forget the dominant season that led to promotion. Forget that memorable season in the top flight. Forget the quality of players he had brought to the club. Forget the fact that, despite a disappointing start to the 2006/07, season they still lied just a few points from the play offs.

These moments had been erased from the short-term memories of the fans and illustrated the short sightedness of the board.

Instead they proceeded with their threat with this statement. They may as well have sacked him there and then as with that statement Worthington's bolt had been well and truly shot. If you were a player after reading that statement you knew you had nothing to play for. No one to play for. You had the excuse already lined up for you. It was all the manager's fault, after all.

What followed was a 4-1 defeat at home to Barnsley and Worthington was out just hours afterwards. The board had even gone back on their promise of two games, he was gone after just one.

In every sense Delia et al let the club down.

They then appointed Peter Grant who later quit after admitting that he could turn things around but did not know if he wanted to. Shocking.

Despite his deficiencies, Glenn Roeder could not be criticised for his lack of trying but this club have been on a downward slope since 27 September 2006 when 'that' statement was released. And so we fast forward to January 2009 and after Glenn Roeder's dismissal the board finally realise the error of their ways, enquiring about the possibility of Nigel Worthington coming back to the club. It must have been tempting for him as he cares for the club dearly and loves the area.

However, he held firm to his commitment to the Northern Irish cause and you would expect nothing less of an honest football man. Well done Nigel.

Mind games

To understand why England have improved so much during Fabio Capello's first year in charge we need to look deeper than the introduction of Theo Walcott onto the international stage or the re-invention of Emile Heskey as a fulcrum for Wayne Rooney to play off. It was all in the mind.

And the single most significant moment during Capello's reign so far came after the 1-0 defeat to France back in the spring. "I told the players I was very happy", the Italian mused. "I think the players were surprised as most were disappointed with the result but I told them that we played well for 30 minutes. If we can play well for 30 minutes against a good team like France in Paris then we can play well for the whole game I reminded them.

He continued: "We had taken a big step forward from the Switzerland game which also pleased me. Before that game (against Switzerland) we had trained very well but then when we played at Wembley in front of 90,000 fans we played badly. It was then that I realised the problem was a mental one and not a physical one.

Hearing Capello elaborate this week on the reasons why England proudly sit top of their World Cup qualifying group with a 100 per cent record was reminiscent of hearing a young Nick Faldo. When Faldo won his first senior title he realised he could win one title every year. Upon this realisation he thought: 'If I can win one title per year, then why can't I win five?' His improvement was dramatic and his mental fortitude will always go down as one of his biggest strengths.

If England are to realise their dreams at the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 then they will surely have to adopt an ability to cope with the pressure similar to that of Germany. The Germans have not missed a penalty in a competitive match since 1976. That includes shoot-outs and penalties in open play. England, meanwhile, have exited five major tournaments after their failure from 12 yards. It is likely that success in a penalty shoot-out will be necessary if England are to be successful in South Africa. Four out of the last five winners of the World Cup have had to successfully negotiate a penalty shoot-out en route.

Capello has a squad at his disposal capable of going far in South Africa but then so do seven or eight other nations. The difference between the winners and the also-rans is usually small. It is usually a mental one.