'There is still a lot to do'

UEFA European Championship Qualifier
8pm, Wednesday 12 September 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1

Steve McClaren hailed his England team’s performance in their 3-0 win over Russia in their qualifying match for the 2008 European Championship, but was quick to point out that there are still three games to go.

The England Head Coach saw his side beat Group E rivals thanks to two goals from Michael Owen and one from Rio Ferdinand, and now the Three Lions face Estonia at home, Russia away, before the final game with Croatia on 21 November.

The victory makes it six points in two games for England after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Israel, and McClaren is delighted to see his side rack up six goals in the process.

"Yes, we'll celebrate the win, and it is a good win, but we know we have three games to go and we know we can get better."

"We were starting to lose our grip but we stuck together and we scored at the right times.

"I am greatly satisfied by the performance, of individuals and the team, and the way the squad have been over the last 10 days. With that performance we have set a marker, we have to continue in that.

"The six points [from last night's match and Saturday's against Israel] were vital. I said to the players, 'It doesn't matter how we get them', but the pleasing thing for me, for everybody, is the performance. That is how England should play."

He said: "They were both great wins but it was also about the performances and the way we did it. I think we blew the two teams [Russia and Israel] away.

"I am delighted with the players’ performances and their attitude but there is still a lot to do, but it has put down a marker for everyone else.

"It is going to be a tough game in Russia, that is going to be the key match. But we still have more games left and have not qualified yet.

"However, the last two performances are encouraging and we should not be afraid of anybody."

Owen’s two goals took his international tally to 40 but McClaren was keen to place emphasis on the team’s effort.

He added: "I never doubted Michael.

"I said before, 'Never write Michael off, he is going to be important for us'.

"Michael has scored in his last four games. He looks fitter, sharper. It was not just his goals, it was his all-round play. The partnership with Emile Heskey has really worked."

"It was a good team performance but Michael has come in a got the goals.

"But their should be praise for all of the squad because they have all knuckled down and when it was time to deliver, we did."

England
1 Paul Robinson, 2 Micah Richards, 3 Ashley Cole, 4 Steven Gerrard, 5 Rio Ferdinand, 6 John Terry (c), 7 Gareth Barry, 8 Shaun Wright-Phillips, 9 Emile Heskey (Peter Crouch, 80), 10 Michael Owen (16 Stewart Downing, 90+2), 11 Joe Cole (14 Phil Neville, 88)

Subs: 12 Wes Brown, 13 David James, 15 Alan Smith, 17 Andrew Johnson, 18 Jermain Defoe.

Head Coach Steve McClaren

Russia
16 Viacheslav Malafeev, 2 Vasily Berezutskiy, 5 Sergey Ignashevich, 10 Andrey Arshavin, 15 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, 17 Konstantin Zyryanov, 18 Yury Zhishkov, 20 Igor Semshov (23 Vladimir Bystrov, 40), 22 Alexander Anyukov (11 Alexander Kerzakov, 80), 26 Dmitry Sychev (19 Roman Pavlyuchenko, 63), 27 Alexey Berezutskiy.

Subs: 12 Anton Shunin, 7 Dmitriy Torbinskiy, 13 Pavel Pogrebnyak, 25 Denis Koldin.

Head Coach Guus Hiddink

Kit Colours

England White shirts, Blue shorts, White socks
GK Aubergine shirt, Aubergine shorts, White socks

Russia Red shirts, White shorts, Blue socks
GK Green shirt, Green shorts, Green socks 

Match Officials
Referee Martin Hansson (SWE)
Assistant Referees Stefan Wittberg and Henrik Andren (SWE)
Fourth Official Martin Ingvarsson (SWE)

Attendance 86,106