Hiccups put England back to pre-Eriksson era

It seems the worst thing one can do in English football these days is to offer someone the national team coaching job. That role has become a poisoned chalice from day one of anyone's appointment.

One hopes that those who wanted Sven-Goran Eriksson out at all costs will now realise that there is no one else in the country who can take over as coach.

A look at the best four clubs in the Premiership will show you that Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all have a non-English man at the helm.

Steve McClaren, the current England coach, wanted to prove he is the boss soon after his engagement and axed ex-skipper David Beckham from his squad.

Beckham is among the the few who always gave his all for his country.

England have now returned to the days when reaching the final stages of a major tournament will be an achievement on its own even if the side reaches its goal via the play-offs. That was the situation before Eriksson took over.

Five in five

Preston forward David Nugent, who scored on his debut against Andorra in a 3-0 win, has become the fifth player in the same number of years to net on his debut.

Nugent becomes the first Preston player to score for England since Tom Finney's last goal for his country (against Northern Ireland) 49 years ago.

The other four players to score on their debut were:

May 28, 2005: Kieran Richardson (Manchester United) scored twice in the 2-1 win against the US in a friendly in Chicago.

August 19, 2004: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City) against Ukraine (F) 3-0 at Newcastle.

February 12, 2003: Francis Jeffers (Arsenal) against Australia (F) 1-3 at Upton Park, London.

February 13, 2002: Darius Vassell (Aston Villa) in a friendly vs Holland 1-1 in Amsterdam.

Other news in March

• FIFA president Sepp Blatter has raised serious doubts over England's hopes of staging the World Cup in 2018 since North America and Asia come first ahead of Europe in the rotation.

• Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is voted 2006 African Footballer of the Year.

• The progress of three English clubs to the quarter-finals of the Champions League equals the feat of 2000-2001.

Outcomes of the second legs and aggregate scores: Chelsea-Porto 2-1 (3-2), Liverpool-Barcelona 0-1 (2-2, through on away goals rule), Manchester United-Lille 1-0 (2-0).

Arsenal and Celtic bow out against PSV Eindhoven 1-1 (1-2) and Milan 0-1 (0-1 after extra time), respectively.

• In the first leg of the UEFA Cup fourth round, Tottenham and Newcastle claim wins against Braga away (3-2) and AZ Alkmaar home 4-2.

Scotland's Rangers could only manage a 1-1 draw against Osasuna at Ibrox Park.

• The Football Association have taken control of the new Wembley Stadium.

• Blackburn (vs Manchester City home) and Watford (vs Plymouth away) move into the last four of the FA Cup. Chelsea (3-3 vs Tottenham home) and Manchester United (2-2 vs Middlesbrough away) have to figure in a replay.

• Manchester United topple a Europe XI side 4-3 at Old Trafford in a celebration match to mark the 50th anniversary of United's baptism in European competitions.

• Scotland climb to the highest ever position of 16th in the FIFA rankings. England remain in sixth place.

• Tottenham Hotspur are the only side to advance to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup after their 3-2 victory over Braga at White Hart Lane to win tie 6-4 on aggregate.

Newcastle and Rangers both fall by the wayside following aggregate defeats to AZ Alkmaar (4-4, out on away goals rule) and Osasuna (1-2).

• Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor quits his job to take over as UEFA general secretary.

• The managerial and player awards for March are won by Manchester United duo Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs.

• At Hampden Park, Hibernian trounce Kilmarnock 5-1 to lift the Scottish League Cup.

• Chelsea and Manchester United join Blackburn and Watford in the semi-finals of the FA Cup after their replay wins over Tottenham (2-1 away) and Middlesbrough (1-0 home) respectively.

• England and Italy share six goals in an U-21 international friendly to raise the curtain on the new Wembley Stadium.

• In a European Championship qualifier in Tel Aviv, England only manage a 0-0 draw against Israel.

Other results: Scotland-Georgia 2-1, Ireland-Wales 1-0, Liechtenstein-Northern Ireland 1-4.

David Healy nets a record second career hat-trick for Northern Ireland.

• Arsenal and Chelsea are fined £100,000 each by the FA following the brawl at the end of the League Cup final in Cardiff.

• Following the sacking of Mike Newell, Luton Town appoint ex-Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell.

• England win 3-0 in Andorra in a European Championship qualifier to ease the pressure on Steve McClaren.

Other results: Italy-Scotland 2-0, Ireland-Slovakia 1-0, Wales-San Marino 3-0, N. Ireland-Sweden 2-1.