World Soccer

Adrian Dennis (AFP/Getty Images)

England needed only a tie at Wembley to make next year’s European Championship.

The English couldn’t do it, losing to Croatia 3-2 on Wednesday.

After Israel had given England a lifeline by beating Russia at the weekend a point was all they needed to pip the Russians to second spot in Group E.

But a desperate goalkeeping blunder and a talented Croatian side proved their undoing.

McClaren’s gamble on calling up Scott Carson for his first full cap backfired badly as the Liverpool keeper gifted Niko Kranjcar a goal after only seven minutes.

Ivica Olic then doubled Croatia’s lead and despite a fightback that yielded a Frank Lampard penalty and an equaliser from Peter Crouch, only to squander their chance to qualify by conceding a third goal to substitute Mladen Petric in the 77th minute.

While England were left with the heartache of missing out on a European championships for the first time since 1984 there was last minute qualification joy for Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Turkey.

This quartet grabbed the remaining places on offer for next year’s finals on a nerve-jangling final night of qualifying to join the Czech Republic, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Holland, Poland, Romania, Spain, and co-hosts Austria and Switzerland.

Sweden ensured their presence at next year’s finals with a 2-1 win over Latvia which put them through as runners up behind Group F winners Spain, 1-0 winners over Northern Ireland.

Norway mauled Malta 4-1 but it wasn’t enough to prevent Turkey bagging the runners-up spot behind Greece in Group C after defeated Bosnia 1-0.

And a 0-0 draw was enough for Portugal at home to Finland.

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