England off to Euro 2004
A scoreless draw against tenacious Turkey was sufficient to give England an automatic place in the Euro footy finals in Portugal next year.
As scoreless draws go, England’s Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey was a good ‘un.
Things could have been much easier for England had David Beckham scored on the 37th-minute from the penalty spot. Midfield maestro Steven Gerrard was tripped in the box by Blackburn’s Tugay Kerimoglu to earn the spot kick.
But the skipper booted over the bar after slipping moments before his strike.
Still England are now through to next year’s finals in Portugal to the relief on the millions of fans who watched from afar.
Turkey needed to win in Istanbul last night to displace England at the top of Group Seven and book them an automatic passage to the finals.
England’s squad was left depleted after Michael Owen was ruled out through injury and defender Rio Ferdinand was dropped for failing to attend a drugs test.
But Emile Heskey worked well up front with teenage prodigy Wayne Rooney and the result says it all for the players at the back.
Off the field antics will occupy some space in the newspapers today but that should not detract from England’s professional performance.
Beckham clashed with Alpay Ozalan during halftime after the Turkish defender reportedly “clipped” the Real Madrid “around the ear,” and made references to his mother.
The mass brawl in the tunnel at half time between the teams is to be reported to UEFA.
England manager Sven Goran Eriksson last night said he would lead England into the Euro 2004 finals after his team’s ‘marvellous performance’ in Istanbul.
It had been rumoured that the Swede would leave for a club job, possibly at Chelsea.
