England's European Championship campaign is hanging by a fine thread. That hasn't stopped Steve McClaren from forecasting a bright future for the team -- which includes him at the helm.
Although, that won't be his decision to make.
"I want to go on, I love this job," McClaren said on Friday. "I've got faith and belief in these players ... they will go on in the future and be successful."
For now he can only focus on the coming week, with England in danger of missing out on a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.
"I can't control what happens," McClaren said. "The campaign is not over and we're still in. Until we're out of it that's when all the debate will start."
That could be as early as Saturday next week if Russia beats Israel to render as redundant England's final Group E qualifier with Croatia on Nov. 21.
Which is why McClaren is Israel's newest and biggest fan.
"They are a proud nation," he said. "They have a fantastic home record. We have to get behind the Israelis and say we need a performance from them. They know that. The whole country, the whole of Europe will be looking at that game."
The former Middlesbrough manager had a forlorn introduction to international management last autumn, losing 2-0 in Croatia after a disastrous experiment with a 3-5-2 formation, plus a dire goalless draw at home to Macedonia.
"I had different ideas and to get them across sometimes it happens straight away and sometimes it takes a bit of time," he said. "It took a little bit longer than I thought it would do, but it's happened and I believe we've turned it around and now we're going forward."
In May, that meant going back to former captain David Beckham, who McClaren axed after succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson in August last year.
The reliance on Beckham earned the Los Angeles midfielder a place in the latest roster -- and a courtesy visit to California by McClaren -- despite lacking match fitness after a long injury layoff.
England would be preparing for Euro 2008 if they hadn't lost to Russia last month while leading 1-0 with 20 minutes to go. Before coming unstuck in Moscow, McClaren had enjoyed a renaissance with five straight 3-0 qualifying victories.
"I am not making excuses over what has happened. That is where we are," McClaren said. "I hope and believe, and I have to believe, that results will go right on Saturday, and that we go into that Croatia game with destiny in our own hands. And then the judgments will be made."
The Austria friendly next Friday will be a chance to test players, like Beckham, recovering from injuries.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson has been given renewed backing, despite concerns about his aptitude following a series of recent blunders for Tottenham.
"I've been loyal to Robbo all the way through, as I always will be," McClaren said. "He's never really let me down."
If Croatia is indeed a decider -- and not a final chance for fans to vent their anger at McClaren -- England will have to win without Wayne Rooney leading the attack. The Manchester United striker was ruled out for a month on Friday with an ankle injury.
The first-choice partnership in central defense will also be missing, with John Terry (injured) and Rio Ferdinand (suspended).
McClaren hasn't ruled out persuading Jamie Carragher to return, despite furiously announcing his retirement from international soccer in the summer in frustration at being overlooked in the starting lineup. A Sol Campbell-Wes Brown linkup is McClaren's likely choice.
As for beating Croatia?
"We're on good form at Wembley," McClaren said. "We've beaten teams and if we play at the tempo we have been and the fans get behind us like they have, I hope it goes to that game because I will be very, very confident."
■ 2010 WORLD CUP
Results on Saturday from round two of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:
Round 2, 1st leg
In Hong Kong:
Hong Kong 0, Turkmenistan 0
Played on Friday
In Singapore:
Singapore 2, Tajikistan 0
In Jakarta:
Indonesia 1, Syria 4
In Sana'a:
Yemen 1, Thailand 1
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two