England’s failed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign remains one of the most disappointing periods in the national team’s recent history.
The team travelled to Russia in October 2007 knowing the match could define their hopes of reaching the European Championship.
Pressure was already growing around then-manager Steve McClaren after several inconsistent performances during the qualifying campaign.
Eventually, England lost the game 2-1 in Moscow. That defeat later played a major role in the team failing to qualify for the tournament, while McClaren subsequently lost his job as manager.
However, years later, a remarkable behind-the-scenes story from that trip has now emerged.
Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, former England manager Steve McClaren revealed how the squad almost faced a major logistical disaster before even arriving in Russia.
According to McClaren, England’s plane encountered serious problems while attempting to land in Moscow because of heavy snowfall.
The aircraft reportedly remained in the air circling Russian airspace while uncertainty grew about whether the team would even receive permission to land.
McClaren explained that concerns inside the squad quickly increased as the possibility of diversion became more realistic. However, John Terry personally saved the day for the entire team.
According to McClaren, former England captain Terry pulled out his phone and contacted Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich directly.
The former Chelsea defender reportedly believed Abramovich could help because of his enormous influence inside Russia during that period.
McClaren revealed that only minutes after Terry made the phone call, the pilot suddenly received clearance from the control tower to land immediately.
This also highlighted the strong connection Abramovich shared with several Chelsea players at the time, especially leaders like John Terry.
Despite the dramatic rescue mission before landing, England’s trip to Moscow still ended in disappointment on the pitch.
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