Artificial Surface No Obstacle to Fired Up England Squad?
England are all fired up and Steve McClaren has vowed that England will go to Russia on Wednesday looking for the win that would book their place in Euro 2008 with a game to spare.
A draw on the Russians’ artificial surface would leave McClaren’s men needing just a draw from their final group E match, at home to Croatia in November.
Estonia coach Viggo Jensen expects England to reach the finals along with Croatia, but warned that they would find life difficult on the artificial surface they will play on in Moscow. “I think it will be difficult for England on this astroturf. This could be the biggest problem for them because they will be worried about it. With the quality they have, on a normal pitch I don’t think they would have a problem.”
But after watching England ease past Estonia with their fifth consecutive 3-0 win in the group, McClaren insisted he would be looking to wrap up qualification with a game to spare. “We have just won our last five games 3-0, we beat Russia 3-0 a few weeks ago and there is a lot of belief and confidence in this squad. “Wherever we go, we go to win. It is an opportunity – what a great opportunity to win the game and qualify.”
First-choice left-back, Ashley Cole looks unlikely for the Moscow trip. The Chelsea defender limped off early in the second half with a serious-looking ankle injury and McClaren admitted: “does not look good.” The coach was more optimistic about skipper John Terry’s chances of returning from a knee injury for England’s biggest match since the 2006 World Cup quarter-final.
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Add comment October 14th, 2007