England were just not good enough, says Platini

London: Michel Platini on Friday night rubbished suggestions that Euro 2008 would be devalued by England's absence and insisted that the players only had themselves to blame for the failure to qualify.

The Uefa president said England were simply not good enough to take part in a tournament for the best 16 nations in Europe.

"They had only to qualify on the pitch," he said. "I do not wish to say that we miss England. The 16 teams that have qualified are the 16 who were the best."

The cost to the FA of failing to qualify for Euro 2008 was further underlined when Uefa published their financial forecast for a tournament that offers a record-breaking prize-fund of £103million and is due to generate in excess of £1 billion.

Platini also risked provoking anger within the Premier League following a savage attack on the financial structure of some of England's top clubs.

"Look at the debts of Chelsea and Manchester United," he said.

"It's a race for money - we've ended up with this proposal for a 39th game to be played abroad. It isn't about winning titles anymore but about generating enough money to pay off debt. I am very worried by the buy-up of clubs by foreigners.

"I don't see why Americans come and invest in these clubs unless they thought they could make something."