So we get to the business end of the Euro 2008 qualifiers. After tonight’s matches and/or the ones during the midweek, we would know those 16 teams that would compete for the Euro 2008 championships at Austria/Switzerland.

BBC clearly lays out all permutations and combinations of the qualifying round and results. Very informative page this one, where you can make what set of results you should pray for, to get your team to Euro 2008.

I felt really sorry for Scotland. I hoped for the ‘Bravehearts’ to qualify and even beat Italy. The Blues beat the Scots right at the stoppage time to get qualified not only themselves but also France.

England gets a lucky reprieve as Israel beats Russia 2-1. This could even be a case of delaying the inevitable. My stance is very clea. I want England to play in the Euro 2008. As much as I’d like to see lesser teams, in a competition of this magnitude, teams like England should play, much for the complexion of the event.

Agreed that England have been playing very mediocre football for all the talent they have in the squad. Do deserve to be playing in Euro 2008? We’ll know the answer only next week. If they end up in the top 2 of the group, they deserve it. That’s it, it’s that simple. I believe in the table, the results and the points. There is no other better indicator than the table itself.

England’s dull displays are a matter of collective failure. There were hardly a few heroes in the England team in this qualification matches so far. Of course, Steven Gerrard can put in garbage after garbage but still not get the blame. As I’ve always said, McClaren should trust Peter Crouch to do the job. Long Pete’s been brilliant for Liverpool as well as England. Michael Owen is once again injured which makes Crouch’s start a certain thing against a strong Croatia.

England would face probably their strongest opponent of the qualifying round when they play Croatia. Two important factors in favour of England are, they are playing at home and Croatia has already qualified. If Croatia were still playing for qualification, I would put my money on Croatia to beat England.