Euro 2008 lacks bite without the three lions

Jun 15 2008 Andy Walker

WHEN Italy's Christian Panucci headed that painful winner against us at Hampden in November the dream of appearing at another finals was over.

Hidden in our sadness we were brutally honest. For Scotland to have come so close to a place at Euro 2008 was beyond most people's expectations.

I don't know any Scot who truly believed at the outset of such a tough qualifying group that we could split World Cup finalists France and Italy.

We almost got there in a section that also included Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine but yet again it ended in glorious failure.

However, it's extraordinary that England - with their array highly talented players - are not involved in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

They were overwhelming favourites to qualify from a pretty straightforward group involving Croatia and Russia.

But under the guidance of Steve McClaren they blew it big time.

All they had to do was avoid defeat at home to the Croatians in their final game yet McClaren's boys slumped to a 3-2 loss in the Wembley rain.

Even though I've never wanted the English to win any tournament I have found myself missing our friends down south at Euro 2008.

Now the event is entering its second week - and from a purely footballing point of view - the finals just aren't the same without England.

If Scotland fail to make it to the big tournaments I like it when our nearest neighbours are involved.

I enjoy the edge to England's game no matter who they are playing. And let's be fair - they have some fantastic footballers.

Major competitions should always have the top stars showcasing their talent and Euro 2008 is a poorer spectacle without Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

England's defensive partnership of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry is also as good, if not better, than any pairing I've seen at the Euros.

All those guys could add a bit of class to any game and it's a shame they are missing out on the finals.

Of course, there is a downside to England competing at this level and Scots are grateful for a few things.

We've been spared all the nonsense about how beautiful the flag of St George is and how fiercely patriotic the English punters are.

Thankfully we're getting none of that because it's a side to the English support few of us can warm to.

Spanish, Dutch and Swedish fans have made the tournament so colourful with their flags and replica strips.

But the big difference is they lack the arrogance of some our friends across the Border.

I don't warm to the endless hours of discussion about who England might play in the final before a ball has even been kicked at the finals.

That can be infuriating especially as they haven't won anything since the 1966 World Cup in their own backyard.

And of course we have also been spared the mind-numbing circus of those WAGs - the endless press about how much they're spending and what they're wearing.

What a nauseating sideshow they've become and it must be a huge irritant for new England boss Fabio Capello.

Having said all that, though, the Euros would be a much better tournament with England there.

Just as I love the contests I see every week in the SPL I'm always drawn to the terrific action down south and the fabulous talent at so many Premiership clubs.

The best players in the league are foreigners - guys like Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres and Carlos Tevez.

But England have some wonderful players of their own who add to the thrill of watching Premiership games.

It's criminal McClaren blew his country's chances of being part of this parade of Europe's best talent.

The English didn't like Sven Goran Eriksson but at least he got them to three major finals.

I like football when it's played at the highest level and - much as it might pain us to admit it - England still have some of the best young talent in Europe.

Furthermore, I'll miss out on winning the easiest bet at any major championships.

England - the great underachievers - are a stick-on to lose in the quarter-finals on penalties.

Maybe that's the real reason I miss their input.