'Arrogant' England only have themselves to blame - Sport - Evening Standard
       

'Arrogant' England only have themselves to blame

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic has attributed England's struggle to qualify for Euro 2008 to being "a bit too self-confident".

England need other results to go their way and must beat Croatia, who top Group E, next Wednesday if they are to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Speaking out: Croatia coach Slaven Bilic believes England's footballers may have underestimated the group

And former West Ham defender Bilic told BBC One's Football Focus: "The group was difficult.

"Maybe your approach was a little bit too self-confident in this campaign."

Bilic suggest England may have under-estimated some of their Group E rivals.

"Because it is not easy to come to Croatia and to get something from a game. It is not easy to play in Russia. It is not easy to play Macedonia.

"And it's very difficult to play in Tel Aviv. So maybe you were expecting you were to cruise the group, but it's a very difficult group."

Bilic did, however, lend his support to Steve McClaren: "As a club manager you need a couple of years to make or build a team.

"In a national team you need three or four years because you do not have them every day. You have them once a month for five days.

"It's not Steve McClaren's fault and I really feel for him and hope he is going to continue."

Comments

Don't Miss
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet