All teams lose an away game by 2-0. What was special, what was memorable, what was ( I hope) unrepeatable, was the way this failure was achieved.

Can England click in Zagreb tonight? Will some of our “world class players” turn it on and lift the gloom?

In 2002 Wayne Rooney was 18 and fit and relaxed and he was playing in a team with a bit of rhythm, and he was able to surprise the opposition, and expectations were a lot less. He played very well, scored goals, and announced himself on a world stage.

Croatia have had 30 qualifying games at home since independence. They have won 20 and drawn 10.And we are not good enough to beat them, so we will play for a draw.

Why did the subs come on so late? Shaun Wright-Phillips did not replace Downing until 71, Defoe did not come on for Rooney till 74.

This game is no walkover. Macedonia are good enough to give England a close game ; Lazio half-striker Pandev is a proven goalscorer at this level.

Playing 3-5-2 in Croatia does not make much sense. Croatia have forgotten more about 3-5-2 than Terry Venables and Steve McClaren will ever know.

England play Macedonia in Manchester on Saturday and Steve McClaren has said he will start Rooney, even though he is nowhere near his best form.

Brazil’s demolition of Argentina at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday underlined the folly of ancient managers selecting elderly superstars to defend the World Cup in Germany, says Alex Abreu Gontijo.

If FIFA produced a verdict that was NOT ridiculous, we would be disappointed. Ridiculous is their modus operandi, their code, their norm.