McClown: I need some heroes

Coach Steve McClaren hopes his players can emulate the spirit of England's rugby union team in Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia.

McClaren admitted a draw would be a good result on the artificial pitch of the Luzhniki Stadium - but is targeting a win and is looking for heroics.

He told a press conference televised by Sky Sports News: "We know this is one of the crunch games - and if we can get the result here we know where that can take us.

"We need organisation and discipline but we need inspiration and heroics - the kind of performances we've had from previous England teams in Istanbul (in 2003) and Rome (in 1998), and we had from the rugby team in Paris at the weekend."

McClaren would not confirm who will replace Ashley Cole at left-back - with Joleon Lescott, Nicky Shorey and Phil Neville all hoping for action - although he admits he has made his mind up about who will be named in his starting

line-up.

The former Middlesbrough boss explained: "I can't name the team or formation.

"I've decided, but the team won't be confirmed until later on this evening to

the players.

"Joleon, Nicky or Phil - I've every confidence in whoever it is who replaces

Ashley to do the job.

"We are coming here to win the game, and it's important we do that and we go into the game knowing we can win it - look at our recent form.

"There are so many permutations and issues around the game. But we have got to make sure we do the job.

"I've got great respect for Russia, but it's about what we do - our personnel and players having the discipline to do our jobs.

"We need heroic and inspirational performances - we are going to have to deal with games like tomorrow and get through them.''

McClaren continued: "Four or five games ago, many doubted we would be in this position.

"But I said the last five games would be critical - and we have put ourselves in pole position. Our performances in recent games bode well.

"Russia have to win - the pressure is huge on them to get this result - but the pitch won't worry me or the players in the slightest.

"Whatever the surface, if someone is a good footballer he can play on it -

and we've got good footballers.''

source: teamtalk

by Phil McNulty - BBC Sport 16 October 2007

Everton's Joleon Lescott made an England debut riddled with uncertainty against Estonia - and now seems set to undergo an even bigger test of nerve against Russia in Moscow.

And just to add to the pressure of playing in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier, the 25-year-old defender is being tipped to play in an unfamiliar left-back role.

If selected he will replace Ashley Cole, ironic because it was Lescott's hestitation that directly led to the Chelsea defender's ankle injury.

So is England coach Steve McClaren backing a wild hunch in selecting Lescott instead of his more experienced Everton team-mate Phil Neville or Reading's established left-back Nicky Shorey?

There is undoubtedly an element of a throw of the dice about Lescott's selection, but McClaren has been a keen observer of the elegant defender for some time and has received glowing recommendations from Everton manager David Moyes.

One criticism that can be aimed at McClaren is that he has passed up opportunities to use Lescott with England before, but now seems willing to test him in Moscow's hostile surroundings.

Fair point - but clearly he has seen enough to at least be considering a commendable show of faith.

England fans, however, should not be fooled by Lescott's tentative first steps in international football.

Lescott has proved himself to be an outstanding success since his £5m move to Everton from Wolves in June 2006.

He has pace, power, a sound temperament and the total respect of his Everton colleagues, who voted him their players' player of the year last season.

And this season he has turned a previously constant but unfulfilled threat at set-pieces into goals, hitting the target five times to make him one of the top scorers in England's current squad.

Lescott has overcome plenty of obstacles to build towards a well-deserved England opportunity.

No-one should question his character or stomach for a battle.

He fought for his life at the age of five after a serious car accident left him scarred, and knee problems meant he did not play a single game in Wolves' season in the Premiership four years ago.

Lescott is a composed central defender, but he has also been highly-accomplished at left-back for Everton.

He occupied the position for much of the second half of last season and occasionally this term, although the arrival of Leighton Baines - who has also impressed McClaren - has eased Everton's need to utilise him there.

Lescott's strength clearly lies in the defensive areas, the weakness may be on the offensive side.

He can be relied upon to keep it simple but effective, supporting Joe Cole but leaving the creative stuff to the Chelsea star.

Does this make him suitable for the Moscow mission? Yes it does.

In truth, Phil Neville has been in wretched form for Everton this season and Shorey's selection would also have been laced with an element of chance.

Lescott will give England presence in both penalty areas, and if he can overcome the nerves he understandably demonstrated on Saturday, then McClaren may just be on to a winner.

The other big selection dilemma facing McClaren is, once again, whether to select Frank Lampard in midfield.

McClaren had been expected to utilise Lampard in a 4-3-3 system alongside Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry - but reports from the training ground suggest he will use the more traditional 4-4-2, which would mean the exclusion of the Chelsea midfield man.

It would be the more conservative option to go for Lampard in a three-man midfield - certainly Barry should not be sacrificed - but the temptation has to be to stick with a system that has brought success.

Nigel Winterburn told Sky Sports News that the loss of Ashley Cole is a blow but England have the players to cope without him in Moscow.

Cole was injured during England's 3-0 win over Estonia on Saturday and has been ruled out for up to three months.

Winterburn, who played twice for England, is sure that Steve McClaren has sufficient cover for the Chelsea full-back, even though he says Cole is one of the team's best performers.

"Ashley's been terrific for England," said Winterburn, "he's very consistent, almost a seven out of 10 every game he plays.

"He almost never has a bad game for England and has made that position his own. It's a big blow but we've got two players who can come in - and I'm thinking [Joleon] Lescott and [Nicky] Shorey - that I believe can do a good job for England.

Winterburn, whose number three shirt at Arsenal was inherited by Cole, would rather that McClaren picked either Lescott or Shorey ahead of Phil Neville despite their lack of experience.

"I personally think that McClaren may go with Lescott because he's been in terrific form for Everton last season and again this season, playing at left-back as well as centre-half," said Winterburn.

But with Lescott having only played 45 minutes international football (against Estonia), wouldn't that be a gamble in such an important match?

"I don't think it will be a gamble," continued Winterburn, "because Shorey has not played a lot of international football either so then you would say that we would have to go with Phil Neville.

"For me Phil Neville's more of a right-back or holding midfield player.

"Go with the men in form and who are comfortable in their positions and although Shorey and Lescott have limited experience at this level, if you don't play them how are they going to get experience anyway?

"I'm sure they will rise to the occasion and so I would go for either Lescott or Shorey."

McClaren relishes Russia pressure

England coach Steve McClaren is relishing the pressure of the must-not-lose confrontation with Russia in Moscow on Wednesday

Although the visitors' plans have been hit by the almost certain loss of captain John Terry to a knee injury suffered in training on Tuesday night, after five straight Euro 2008 victories, McClaren has every reason to be in bullish mood.

While he is refusing to get carried away at the prospect of booking a place at next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland by beating Guus Hiddink's men, after the trials and tribulations of his early months in charge, the current challenge is one he is happy to face.

"Our qualifying campaign will be defined by what happens here - and that is great," he said.

"It is better than being here with no chance of qualifying. This is the position we wanted to be in at the beginning.

"Yes, we would have liked to have qualified by now - but only Germany have done that. I have always said it would come down to the last two or three games, and so it has proved."

Despite Terry's injury - which should see Sol Campbell retain his place in a defence probably also featuring Everton's Joleon Lescott as replacement for Ashley Cole - for once McClaren is in the happy position of being the least pressurised of the two managers.

While victory would take England through, a draw would leave Russia in the unenviable position of needing to beat Israel in Tel Aviv and then hope Croatia can defeat McClaren's side at Wembley on the same night, with Andorra on home soil their final game.

It is a healthy situation for the visitors and one that could hardly have been envisaged when England were lambasted by their own fans as they laboured against Andorra in March.

"Four or five games ago, so many people doubted we would be in this position," McClaren observed.

"We have come here knowing a draw is a good result - but we are coming here to win.

"Our performances in recent games bode well. Russia have to worry about us, not the other way round."

McClaren is demanding heroics and inspiration from a side which will now be captained by Steven Gerrard and will almost certainly have Frank Lampard itching to get involved from the substitutes' bench.

Although Gerrard does not conjure up the same bulldog spirit as Terry, he is capable of inspiration, as he showed against Andorra.

That trait has been so evident among England's rugby counterparts, who have performed heroically during their World Cup campaign - a fact not lost on McClaren.

"The history of English sporting teams and individuals suggests a never-say-die spirit," he said.

"When their backs are against the wall, they come out fighting and they come out on top.

"Despite the criticism or whatever may be thrown at them, they still stand up and deliver.

"It is exactly what we have seen in the last two rugby matches. We have all been inspired by that - me, my players and my staff - and that is what we need against Russia."

source: teamtalk