FIFA president Sepp Batter has laid the blame for England's failure to reach Euro 2008 squarely on the domination of foreigners in a Premier League that is ironically producing some of the best national sides in Europe.

Speaking in Zurich ahead of the start of the Championships this weekend, Blatter said: "Football is unpredictable and sometimes without any logic but it is a fact that in the strongest English teams the best players are not always English.

"So where are the best English players coming from? They are coming from the less strong teams, which is weakening the English national team. What is happening in England is that the best teams are preparing the national team players for England's opponents.

"The Premier League has benefited the other countries taking part in the European championships, but not England."

England failed to reach the finals after finishing behind Croatia and Russia in their qualifying group.