It was always going to be a shambles.
And it isn't often that this Newcastle United blog strays to international football.
But with our own manager Sam Allardyce now on the FA's shortlist to take over how can you ignore a farce that makes Newcastle United's problems look straight forward?
And should Michael Owen remain a Newcastle United player - and I know there aren't many who would put their house on it - surely a summer of rest for a player bombarded by injuries sustained on international duty can only be a good thing?
But let's try to pick up the pieces from last night.
Steve McClaren - once in the frame for the Newcastle United manager's position - was handed a second chance by Israel to qualify for Euro 2008 and then went on to blow it at Wembley in spectacular style.
The game was played on a pitch which still had visible markings from an NFL game ludicriously played out just three weeks earlier - as gridiron players from both Miami Dolphins and New York Giants hacked the pitch to pieces - and England were woeful.
Yeah, yeah they battled back to 2-2 but by then most people with a brain knew they had the capablilities to throw it all away again and they did just that.
A man with an umbrella and a cup of tea on the sidelines was in charge of a country that once won the World Cup.
Big Sam had already been tipped to come in and take over the job before the Croatia farce kicked in.
But now his name being bandied about once again can only cause unrest in the Toon camp whether fans are for or against Allardyce.
You could not make it up.
It means that we have to sit like muppets and watch the rest of Europe show us how to play football next summer.
But it isn't all bad news.
It means that the "once every two years brigade" brand of football fan won't be out in force with their England replica shirts and crocodile tears when we go out on penalties.
It means that you won't see them dodgy car flags on the back of people's cars who are usually in Tescos at 3pm on most Saturdays during the regular season.
Anyway back to more pressing matters at Newcastle Big Sam now has less than 48 hours to find a back four to take on Liverpool - a Liverpool team that will contain wounded soldiers such as Peter Crouch and Steven Gerrard.
Yet I get the feeling that many Geordies would have taken three points from the Liverpool game ahead of qualification for Austria and Switzerland anyway.
And while that choice was never available when the dust settles, the harsh reality for United is that Liverpool - after the Pompey debacle - is now a must win or at least a don't lose fixture.
Football, great innit?
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