EURO 2008: FEEL THE PAIN

24-11-2007

England’s defeat by Croatia has left a nation in despair – or at least a state of mild irritation – over our failure to qualify for Euro 2008. Damien Doran’s been ear-wigging to the players’ reaction.

David Beckham spoke for all of us this week when he said that it 'doesn't matter how many cars or houses you have, when you lose it hurts.'

And just how many of you have stopped for one moment to think of those disappointed England footballers? They are the ones truly suffering. How many of England's Golden Generation will never again have the opportunity to star in a multi million ound advertising campaign linked to a major international football tournament?

Who will be featured when the likes of Nike and Coca Cola come knocking? Who is going to be the face of Ford and the foot in the Adidas boot? Christiano Ronaldo, that's who!

The best our lads can hope for is a bit of TV punditry or to re-hash their latest autobiography with a new chapter of 'My McClaren Hell', sold in weekly instalments to the News of The World.

Perhaps some bright marketing executive could come up with a series of 'ironic ads', with Wayne and Colleen advertising summer holidays to get away from all the football in the Bahamas.

And would you like to go home to tell one of the WAGS that next years all expenses paid holiday and shopping trip with the Girls is off?

Consider all those parents and children who will now have to think of a different present from the new England Euro 2008 shirt to replace the old one bought for Christmas.

How would you cope with the disappointment of a nation on your shoulders. You just had to look at Gary Lineker and Ian Wright on TV to know what it means.

That's right, they realised that next years BBC junket to Austria and Switzerland had just had its budget cut.

So when you feel the need to rant on radio programmes or shout your mouth off in the pub, stop and remember who the real victims are. Yes, David, we feel your pain.