'England won't be missed at Euro 08'

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The president of European football's governing body is not worried that England failed to make the 16-team tournament, which features the rest of the continent's major sides.

Platini said: "What does England's absence mean to me? Nothing. They had only to qualify on the pitch. I do not wish to say that we miss England. That would mean, moreover, that the Croats are worthless. If England are not capable of finishing in the first two teams from a group of six, that is their problem."

His comments came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a plea to the Football Association and the other home nations to avoid any future repeat of a non-British finals.

Asked if he was looking forward to the tournament Brown replied: "I am. But when you think this is one of the biggest tournaments in world sport, it's a real waste that there will be no British team involved. We never want to see that happen again."

Mr Brown said on Sky Sports that Britain should always be competitive in every world sporting event. He said: "But that starts with a revolution in our sports, and the engagement of the whole country in sport."

Platini, meanwhile, told L'Equipe he wanted Premier League clubs to be stopped from piling up debts.

He said the all-English Champions League Final was down to the clubs "cheating" in terms of their finances. He said: "Look at the deficits of Chelsea and Manchester United. FIFA and UEFA are going to have to combat that because, today, it is the ones who cheat who win.

"We are starting to work on this. It's a race for money. The passion in England is exceptional and hooliganism has been fought but, as for the rest, we are going to have to find something."