'We are good enough'
Tuesday, 04 September, 2007
Steve McClaren has told his England players that they are good enough to beat both Israel and Russia.
England v Israel
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
5pm, Saturday 8 September 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1
England Head Coach Steve McClaren today brought his players together for a meeting ahead of huge games against Israel and Russia and roared: This squad is good enough to win both matches.
McClaren's preparations for the Euro 2008 qualifiers have been hampered by injuries but he is adamant it will not harm England's chances when they face Israel at Wembley on Saturday and Russia at home four days later.
"We had a meeting this morning and looked around the room," he said. "I’m very very pleased with what I’ve got. I said to them ‘no excuses, we have got enough in this room to win these games, go out and do it.
"That has to be the mindset. We have what we have and it’s good enough. There are good enough players, a good enough squad, good enough team to go out and win these two games."
The pressure on England to perform is intense because the Three Lions currently sit fourth in their qualifying group and are desperate to reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
But the atmosphere in the camp is positive after beating Estonia in June and McClaren wants to tap into that mine of confidence.
"This is why you are in football," he insisted. "Big games are why you are in it. England is why you are in it. We want qualification for Switzerland and Austria next summer. We’ve got five games to do it, four at home. It’s in our hands, it’s up to us.
"We should relish the challenge because the majority of people who are putting pressure on us, they are expectations are big. We have to cope with that and make sure we deliver."
Speaking about Emile Heskey McClaren said: "He's played with Michael Owen before and there is evidence they have linked well together - and Michael has scored goals playing with Emile.
"Also he is a different option to the rest of the strikers. Yes, we have got Peter Crouch who is a targetman, a problem for defenders in the air and puts himself about, but we haven't got him for the first game because of suspension so I am bringing Emile in. He gives us that option."