The main thing is we can't play football. We can kick the ball and players very hard. We are also quite tall and some players can run very fast - without the ball. Other than that we are no hopers. Not one outstanding player - just some adequate ones. We have been found out- I BLAME THE COACHING

Patrick, Blackpool, UK

Rod, don't forget H. Redknapp - "england would be right up there if we qualified" - good enough to do well in a tourney they weren't good enough to qualify for?

I've took this to mean Scotland are a semi-final standard team.

Could someone tell me what John fron CANVEY ISLAND is on about?

Robert, Greenock, UK

Couldn't agree more! Tis just a pity that the coverage is so ruined by these idiotic English football commentators telling us how one of the best players on the pitch brother played for Brentford reserves!
I.E. 'Little Englander' chauvinism lives on made ten thousand times worse by Hanson etc!!!

M Stewart, Edinburgh, Scotland

Have not had a sniff since 1966??..well how about 1990?..and without the lottery of pens in 2004, 2006 we would have been in the Semis..so not far off eh??...we have the talent in this country, and I will not let people tell me otherwise..Rooney, Gerrard, Owen, J Cole, Beckham, Lampard etc..

Paul Mairs, Blackpool, England

If you can 'support' (I use the term loosely) a team from Manchester or South West London or Liverpool when you don't come from either of those places then why should you support you national team anyway? I' m suprised most of the people in that category don't support Brazil or Germany already.

Tony, Bristol, England

Football's top competitions without England a good thing? Only if you're not a masochist. What's beer for but to cry into? Come on Capello, get us to Cape Town. Every rodeo needs a clown and we disappointophiles need a fix!

John Boreman, Hong Kong,

I have a way to enable England to look good *and* maybe even win something. The FA should lobby UEFA to rename the Euros "the UEFA Champions League of Nations" and organise a similar but far less prestigious tournament called "the Coca Cola UEFA Championship".

David, Stockport, UK

Rod - Sports writing is not your forte - stick to politics !!!!

ian payne, walsall,

and if there were no English connection with Wimbledon and Big Brother the summer would be more tolerable. This year's sport is spotting tortured BBC attempts to arouse enthusiasm for foreign footie matches

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

French and Welsh racism hit out again at the English hat a bore. Where is Scotland I thought they would not miss a chance to bash the English.
The truth is wihout England none of you exist. Oh I forgot media studies replaced history in our schools so the Welsh Scots and French could forget.

John Butt, CANVEY ISLAND, England

Most comical name I think I've ever heard was of a Swiss player from the previous euro tournement. Bernt Haas! Awesome.

ben, kings Lynn, uk

I'm a little surprised at Rod's comments. What's new? Euro and World Cup are always more enjoyable once the inevitable has happened.

I was a lad when England got lucky in 66. There's been barely a sniff of success for England but plenty of other nations have richly earned my support.

Stuart Harris, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire

Well of course English players don't need to play, they have enough money already. Anyway, we can buy the next edition of Hello, or is it OK to be sick all over THE Wedding. David Smith, Cannes

David Smith, Cannes, France

I'm surprised you didn't mention McClaren's obsession with players' heights and the fact that he describes everything as either "quality" or "disappointing".

It's like listening to David Brent commentate.

J. Wilkes, Gloucester,

I was watching the Germany Poland game in a bar in Glasgow and cheered when Germany scored (i lived there and always loved it) and my word, never have I seen so many dirty looks, I sometimes forget just how many Poles live here. All good fun though.

john, aberdeen,

hear hear... but I miss Ireland!

annie, Devon,

It's been absolutely brilliant. Great games in packed intimate stadiums full of colour. Been watching it in pubs in London and it's been great to watch it with Spanish fans then in later game the Dutch fans. If we are humble our players and fans should heed this valuable lesson. Not missed Engerland

Mark, Liverpool, England

Enjoyed the article. After watching Holland defeat both Italy and France in four days in a major tournament I am left wondering how long will I have to wait until England can do the same with a similar goal tally.

JWP, Amsterdam, Nederland

Thanks for this caustic article - it made me laugh sincerely. To say the least, it makes up for the swallen-headed articles that tend to appear in the English press suggesting that England qualify automatically due to their former record of successes (which are not specified, naturally).

Milan, Brno, Czech republic

I agree with nearly everything you say. However, you must have dozed off when watching Russia as they have been playing some of the most flowing one-touch football of the tournament. Their only problem has been a lack of goals because of an injury to Pogrebniak and suspension to Arshavin.

Alex, Bristol,

Great write Rodder's, I cannot understand the Michel Owen furor! My mum has better feet than him and is quicker too! Capello will qualify for S.A and then get knocked out by drawing with Benin, beating Saudia Arabia 1-0 and then losing to Holland 7-0. Can't wait! The Beautiful Game will always win!

T. Pallett, london, u.k

I agree with you to a certain extent.The English Squad-Lampard, Gerrard,Terry,Joe Cole, Theo Walcott are all quality players and deserved to be there.I hope tha FA implements a Progarmme to teach supporters how to behave abroad,Like other Countries supporters.I hope Portugal or Holland win it.

Khyber, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Ronaldo is in my top three most unlikeable players, and, I grudgingly admit, the top three best players too.. I think this is why I dislike him so much. But maybe I'm just getting grumpier as I age.

Holland for the prize - they are an absolute pleasure to watch...

SpiderMonkey, Cambridge, UK

What annoys me most,is when I see foreign players produce moments of magic,and then the commentator points out that the player once had a season in English football, but failed to make the grade.That to me says it all.Most of our coaches wouldn't know a decent player.Think of McClaren; I'm right.

Mike, Dunstable, England

Quite right, Ron. Speaking as an Englishman,I've realy enjoyed the tournament without England. Perhaps the FA will be stung into encouraging the development of English players rather than sanctioning packing the Premiership with foreigners

John, Maidstone,

Very good article Rod. I agree entirely except your references to Ronaldo and Russia. Ronaldo must be in everybody's top three list at the moment. He's extremely effective, takes on defenders, passes crisply, heads on target and scores from free-kicks. The Russians have the nucleus of a good team

Marco Borg, London, United Kingdom

Surely the best thing about Euro 2008 is that we do not have to fear seeing beer-bellied, shaven headed, drunken morons throwing restaurant chairs and tables about in the street in the name of Engerland.

Barry Smith, Colomby, France

The not quality press bemoaned the fact that England was absent from the tournament, criticising M Platini for saying England would not be missed!
Well, we aint missed...for all the reasons Mr Liddle said, and it proves that being paid a fortune does not a good player make!

Crispy, Swindon,

Why do you hate Ronaldo and Deco?
I guess we should hate our own players for not being able to qualify to the Euro ...

Vincent, London, UK

I disagree. There is something missing this year. Euro 2008 has no soul. There's nothing to laugh at or to feel superior about. With England not there to snatch hapless defeat at ever opportunity, why watch. There's only Holland, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Italy, the Czechs, Portugal .....

mark, dubai, uae

I agree - no stress this time! But it is a shame that the 'average supporter' isnt focused on enough. Sure, we dont have to put up with any reports of fights, or scathing media, but the majority of fun loving supporters would love to see our country in there!

Chris, Sydney, Australia