McClaren bullish on England future ahead of crunch clashes

MANAGER Steve McClaren insists England can look forward to the future with confidence even though their Euro 2008 dreams may be extinguished in Tel Aviv next week.

Should Russia overcome Israel 24 hours after McClaren’s side tackle Austria in a Vienna friendly on November 16, England will miss out on a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.

That would leave McClaren clinging to his job, hoping the key decision-makers within the FA take the same lenient view as they did with Bobby Robson when his team missed out on the European Championships in 1984.