Russia joined Sweden, Turkey and Portugal as the last four qualifiers for next year's European Championship last night after England's hopes were shattered in a 3-2 defeat by Croatia at Wembley Stadium.
Russia were the 16th and final team to reach Euro 2008 in Switzerland and Austria next June after Guus Hiddink's men leapfrogged England in Group E with a 1-0 victory in Andorra. Croatia had already qualified last weekend.
Sweden booked their place with a 2-1 victory over Latvia in Stockholm, Turkey made sure with a 1-0 home over visitors Bosnia and a 0-0 draw was enough for Portugal at home to Finland.
The night's real drama was at Wembley, where England had needed only a draw to go through but were 2-0 down within 14 minutes after goals from Niko Kranjcar and Ivica Olic.
They rallied in the second half with a Frank Lampard penalty and a 65th minute strike by Peter Crouch, only to squander their chance to qualify by conceding a third goal to substitute Mladen Petric in the 77th minute.
The Croatians will be among the second seeds when the draw for the finals is made in Lucerne, Switzerland on December 2.
England were missing the injured Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney and John Terry and the suspended Rio Ferdinand.
It will be the first time since 1984 that England miss out on the European Championship finals and the first time since the 1994 World Cup that they have failed to qualify for a major tournament - putting the future of coach Steve McClaren in doubt.
David Beckham, a second-half substitute, said: "This is a big setback, not just for the players but the nation... we have to show the English way which is to fight back."
Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said: "We are simply a much better team, tonight we were the better team."
Dmitiri Sychev got Russia's winner over Andorra to seal their place in a pulsating end to the qualifiers.
Germany were the first country to emerge from the group competition in mid-October, while the 2006 World Cup winners Italy and beaten finalists France were among those to come through last weekend, along with fellow favourites Netherlands.
Holders Greece, the surprise winners at Euro 2004, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Croatia complete the lineup. The two host nations qualified automatically.
In Modena, Italy finished top of Group B after coasting to a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands.
Defender Frodi Benjaminsen turned Massimo Oddo's low cross into his own net after 10 minutes before Luca Toni scored with a stylish strike in the 36th and defender Giorgio Chiellini blasted in from outside the area four minutes from the break.
Rogvi Jacobsen had several chances for the Faroes and grabbed a deserved goal with a header after 83 minutes while Johan Davidsen struck a post late on as Italy eased up.
Italy, who qualified for next year's finals by winning 2-1 in Scotland on Saturday, made eight changes for the game and gave a debut to Juventus winger Raffaele Palladino.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands have finished as the highest-ranked team in next month's draw despite losing their final qualifier 2-1 in Belarus.
The Dutch could have been pipped to top spot if Germany had won their last qualifying match but Joachim Loew's team only managed a 0-0 draw at home to Wales.
Euro 2008 seedings
Pot 1: Switzerland (hosts), Austria (hosts), Greece (holders), Netherlands.
Pot 2: Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden.
Pot 3: Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain.
Pot 4: Poland, France, Turkey, Russia.