Steve McClaren has pointed an accusing finger at Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo for the 'disgraceful' decision that has helped to leave England on the brink of a humiliating failure to reach Euro 2008.
Empics Another bad day at the office for Macca England were in front and, in McClaren's eyes, in control when Cantalejo ruled Wayne Rooney tugged Konstantin Zyryanov's shirt inside the box. The foul was clear enough, but TV replays showed the foul occurred outside the area. Yet up stepped Roman Pavlyuchenko to level from the spot - and when the Russian substitute netted again four minutes later, England's dreams were in tatters. McClaren now knows if Russia beat Israel in Tel Aviv next month then Guus Hiddink's men will qualify at the expense of his own side once they have completed the formality of hammering Andorra in Moscow four days later - on the same night England are completing their campaign against Croatia. Such a scenario would see England miss the final stages of a major championship for the first time since the 1994 World Cup, cost the Football Association millions in lost potential sponsorship - and almost certainly McClaren his job. For that depressing situation, McClaren feels Cantalejo should shoulder responsibility. 'It is an absolute disgrace,' fumed McClaren. 'We were comfortable, and they were running out of ideas. If that penalty had not been awarded, I am absolutely confident we would have won the game. We were in total control. 'I am not blaming anybody - but the penalty was given by a referee in a bad position because it was outside the box. 'I don't fault the players; I don't fault their attitude; I don't fault their endeavour - and I don't fault what they did in the game. 'Because of one decision, we went from being in a winning position to losing.' McClaren did not mention, however, the fact that the officials also failed to spot that Rooney was marginally offside when he sent his first-half opener arrowing into the roof of Russia's goal. Cantalejo could hardly be blamed for Steven Gerrard's awful miss at the start of the second half - when a cooler head from the captain would have seen England establish a two-goal lead and pave the path to next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland. Instead, McClaren is left pinning his hopes on Israel - who did hold Russia to a draw in Moscow earlier in qualifying, although that was at a time when they had some hope of reaching the finals themselves. 'Nobody likes losing games, and I certainly don't,' he said. 'The players are devastated in the dressing room - but we stick together. 'This group is not over yet. It is out of our hands - but it is not over.' Understandably, McClaren refused to get into any discussion over his future - or the outcome in Tel Aviv next month, given the two situations are inextricably linked. 'It was in our hands - now it is not,' he admitted. 'But Russia still have to go to Israel and win. The pressure is still on them. We just have to wait. 'As I have said all along, this group is decided over 12 games - not 10 or 11. Let's see where we end up.' As someone who was in the frame to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England manager, Russia coach Guus Hiddink was entitled to feel an extra degree of satisfaction at victory. Like McClaren, he felt his team was in control and isolated the central positioning of left-back Joleon Lescott and the difficulty Joe Cole had in patrolling the same flank, as one of the major reasons for his optimism, even at half-time when Russia's position looks as bleak as England's is now. 'We got a lot of space on our right-hand side during the first half,' said Hiddink. 'The final touch was not good enough but the threat was there. 'I would not be arrogant enough to say I was confident at half-time but I did feel if we got an equaliser we would get another. 'The England defenders do not like being under pressure and in the second half we made them do things they did not want to do.' It is impossible to know what the outcome would have been had the rival managers been in the opposite dug-outs but the pedigree of one does outshine the other quite conclusively. Hiddink though is too wily a customer to believe the job is done just yet. 'England are not my concern,' he said. 'I just know we now have to beat Israel away from home, which will be difficult, and then Andorra. That is why this result is so vital for us.'
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England's qualification for UEFA Euro 2008 is in doubt after a 2-1 defeat to Russia.

 scored two goals in the second half today, although both sides had their chances.

Russia had a penalty appeal turned down by the Spanish referee after eleven minutes, while Konstantin Zyrianov saw his drive pushed onto the goalposts by England's goalkeeper Paul Robinson. Needing to win on an artificial pitch in Moscow to be certain of qualification, England took the lead after 29 minutes when Wayne Rooney opened the scoring with a volley.

Both Steven Gerrard and Micah Richards missed chances to seal victory for England, and Russia equalised with a Roman Pavlyuchenko penalty after Wayne Rooney brought down Konstantin Zyrianov. England manager Steve McClaren said the penalty shot was a 'disgraceful' decision, as the offence appeared to have happened just outside the penalty area. Pavlyuchenko scored Russia's winner just four minutes later.

England have one match remaining against  leaders Croatia on November 21, but the defeat to Russia means that other results must go their way if they are to qualify for next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Russia will qualify ahead of England if they defeat both Israel and Andorra in their final two matches.