McClaren on the defensive

STEVE McCLAREN put on the bravest face he could find — but he will need more than that to convince a nation he can lead England to Euro 2008.

McClaren’s honeymoon is well and truly over, and he was firmly on the defensive as he fielded questions about the future after Wednesday night’s 2-0 Group E defeat in Croatia.

In Dinamo Zagreb’s trophy room at the Maksimir Stadium, surrounded by dusty silverware, he gave defiance his best shot.

He is not about to walk out on his job after just five games in charge.

Why should he, less than three months into a lucrative four-year deal?

McClaren took full responsibility for the defeat in Zagreb — and he had little choice after gambling with a 3-5-2 formation.

The tactical switch was a huge call.

He could have patched up his 4-4-2 system and pointed to injuries, suspensions and Croatia’s unbeaten home record.

Instead, he scrapped the back four — the only part of the team not already malfunctioning — and his new formation become the focus of defeat.

It immediately set fans wondering if McClaren has what it takes.

Those who travelled to Zagreb made their feelings known to the players.

Chants of “You’re not fit to wear the shirt” accompanied the superstars down the tunnel and into the sanctuary of the dressing room.

It was England’s worst qualifying result since Graham Taylor’s team were beaten 2-0 in Holland in 1993.

McClaren’s biggest problem is that he was never a universally popular choice in the first place.

Supporters may have enjoyed the 4-0 win against Greece, who have since won three qualifiers on the spin, but demand something more substantial from the new boss.

Martin O’Neill, Luiz Felipe Scolari and Sam Allardyce had a substantial share of public support at the time.

O’Neill’s brilliant start to the season at Aston Villa will not have gone unnoticed inside Soho Square, especially by FA chief executive Brian Barwick who preferred the Irishman.

McClaren stands by his tactics in Croatia and maintains his belief that the England team must become more flexible.

He was rushed into the change by losing key personnel like Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Aaron Lennon and Ledley King.

But the real problem is the serious lack of cover lurking behind the established players.

“We looked at where we were coming to, and it was my decision and my responsibility to go the way we did.

“I felt with the experience and the characters within that shape we would have the balance to defend and keep a clean sheet and score a goal — but it wasn’t to be.

“I couldn’t fault the players — they’ve worked at it. It’s my responsibility; I take the blame.”

McClaren insists his self-belief has not taken a blow.

Asked if he was still the man to lead England, he said: “Yeah. Yeah.”

Then he puffed out his cheeks, exhaled and continued: “This was a big game, which was always going to be difficult.

After only drawing at home to Macedonia, the England camp talked about the measure of a good team being their response to a setback.

They did not react well in Croatia, and the next game on the Euro 2008 trail is another daunting fixture — away to Israel, probably in Tel Aviv, in a game sure to be surrounded by security issues.

Israel are unbeaten in 13 competitive games, dating back to a defeat in France three years ago.