There's a shocker!

So, England haven't qualified for Euro 2008 - to be honest I'm glad. England simply didn't deserve it - and the sooner we all realise that England aren't actually that good, the better.

The EPL may be fast, furious and full of Sky induced excitment - but it's all hype. Players are overpaid, overhyped, technically lacking, and prematurely labelled 'world class'. Not a single player in the England squad is 'world class' - how may would make an Italian, Brazilian or even a US squad? Answer, none. How many play abroad? One - and his last game was against Hollywood FC.

At its heart football is a very beautiful, and very simple, team game. You pass it to a player in your team, work your way up the pitch and eventually you'll get a semi decent chance to have a shot - that's it. It's not long, optimistic balls down the centre of the pitch. It's not long throw ins to 'the big guy up front'. It's not being flash or having passion. It's not diving and getting dubious penalties. It's simple - possession and technique - the two areas England lack. England had an easy group from which to qualify - unlike Scotland or Northern Ireland who have done superbly and haven't received anything like the praise they deserve.

The only thing worse than England? The BBC coverage. Lineker, Hansen, Shearer and Wright are awful. Lineker would be a good pundit - and at least he's actually done something in big tournaments - but he shouldn't be fronting the show. Much as like I Hansen, he is descending into a caricature of himself. Shearer was dull as player and is as equally dull on TV. Whilst I admire his loyalty to Newcastle, he was found wanting on the big international stage so I can never take his criticism of players not performing at the top level seriously. As for Ian Wright - the man can barely string a sentence together at the best of times, and the fact that the England squad includes his son should immediately disbar him from the pundit panel. The sooner Auntie Beeb wakes up and puts a decent football panel together the better. My suggestion; it needs a balance of professional, yet knowledgable, presenters and some ex-pros - Adrian Chilles hosting with the pundits being Lineker, James Richardson and Strachan or O'Neil.

Anyway, back to the football. England have made the beautiful game, ugly. McClaren should go, Barwick should go, Gerrard, Lampard and Beckham should all go. Put Brooking in charge of the FA, get sensible coaching at youth level throughout the country, and employ Hiddink - who has worked miracles with Holland, South Korea, Australia and Russia - at whatever salary he wants.

Still, at least we'll now have a genuine festival of football next summer - England will not be missed.