England won't be featuring in Euro 2008 as they failed to snatch a point at Wembley on Wednesday, losing 3-2 to already-qualified Croatia. Russia's 1-0 victory over Andorra got them the second qualifying spot of Group E. England players and manager Steve McClaren were booed after the game but the under-fire coach said he won't resign. "I'm not stepping down," he told BBC Sport a few minutes after the game. "I take responsibility. It was my job to get us qualified and I failed to do it. I'm not discussing my future." Naïve mistakes from goalkeeper Scott Carson and the England back four gave the visitors a shocking two-goal lead after just 14 minutes. Carson, on his competitive debut, failed to parry a long-range shot from Niko Kranjcar as the ball slid over his hands and settled home. Arsenal striker Eduardo Silva caught the home defenders napping to set up Ivica Olic, who rounded Carson and poked into an empty net. England appealed for an offside but television replays proved that Olic was covered by at least one defender. Almost-fired manager McClaren fielded David Beckham and Jermain Defoe at the beginning of the second period and both masterminded England's fight-back into the game. Defoe won a debatable penalty-kick in the 56th minute and Franck Lampard thundered the ball home to reduce the deficit. Eight minutes later, Beckham, in his 99th cap, sent a superb cross for the well-positioned Peter Crouch, who chested down before pinning in the equalizer. The draw was enough for England to qualify but Mladen Petric dispatched another long-range bullet that floated past Carson in the 77th minute to condemn England to defeat.
