'We've come to win'
Wednesday, 17 October, 2007
Steve McClaren has urged his Three Lions stars to go out beat Russia and make history in Moscow tonight.
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
4pm (BST), Wednesday 17 October 2007
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Live on Sky Sports
Steve McClaren has urged his Three Lions stars to go out beat Russia in their own backyard and make history in Moscow tonight.
The Head Coach knows three points in the Luzhniki Stadium would guarantee England a place in the Euro 2008 Finals – and there can be no bigger incentive.
Experience tells you there is always one key game in a qualifying campaign that is destined never to be forgotten – just think back to a day in Rome ahead of the 1998 World Cup and a game in Istanbul before Euro 2004.
And this is a chance for the current crop of England stars to put their names in the history books alongside the likes of Paul Ince and David Beckham.
They certainly go into the match full of confidence after five 3-0 victories in a row in Group E and with McClaren relishing the chance to pit his wits against Russia’s Guus Hiddink again after beating them 3-0 at Wembley.
He said: “If we want to qualify, go to tournaments and have a chance of winning, these are the games where we must produce.
“We must buck the trend and defy history and tradition and overcome that. If we are going to do well, we will have to do that tonight.
“We should be confident. We have belief. We are in a good frame of mind and we know what we have to do.”
What England have to do, of course, is win. And although a point would also leave the Three Lions in a very strong position, needing only a draw against Croatia next month to finish the job, McClaren is clear about his intentions.
He said: “We need to get the balance right. We are coming here to win. That means we have to score. We have to get the balance right and not defend for 90 minutes. I don't intend to do that.
“Five 3-0 victories have given us great confidence and belief. We have found a blend and a balance that the players are comfortable with. It is not a case of looking at Russia, it is a case of what we do.
“They must be looking at us after Wembley and thinking how are we going to stop that? It is all about how we play and how we approach the game.
“But of course the pressure is on Russia. They have to win. They have to take risks. They are at home. They have to set the tempo.
“The first 20 minutes of any game is important. I have always stressed that. I am sure they will be emphasising that. We will have to withstand that early storm but we will try to win the match.”
McClaren is proud that England have come so far since the early stages of the tournament when defeat in Croatia and a home draw with Macedonia put the team’s qualification hopes in the balance. And he has every faith that his players will finish the job.
He concluded: “We sat here three or four months ago and people were doubting whether we would be in a position to qualify.
“What delights me is the response of the players. That is the key thing. When it is needed we generally get the results we have to get. The players have known what to do and they have gone out and done it.
“They have shown great determination and a great focus. That has to continue.
“I never had any doubts about these players or the position we were in. I always thought this would be THE game and it has proved to be. We’re ready for it.”
To watch the full press conference video with Steve McClaren, click on the link above.