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.