McClaren: I will survive this week

STEVE McCLAREN looked ahead to the biggest week of his managerial career and insisted: “I will survive.”

By this time next week, McClaren’s England could be out of Euro 2008 and he might well be out of a job.

Indeed, in the worst-case scenario, the roar of the Three Lions will be silenced within 48 hours should Russia defeat Israel in Tel Aviv and Croatia gain a point from their trip to Macedonia.

Yet McClaren remains positive, optimistic and defiant.

“I believe I will survive,” he said.

“I have come through adversity in the past and I am sure I will again.

“We are in a period of uncertainty. But the uncertainty is about this qualifying campaign, not my job.

“Qualification is out of our hands but I have always believed the Croatia match next Wednesday would be the crunch game and I still do.”

Having already offered his public support to McClaren in the build-up to this week’s events, FA chief Brian Barwick is unlikely to offer anything other than his steadfast support now.

“We had a nice little chat about the week, about business and about certain meetings we have had before,” revealed McClaren. “But we have not spoken about my job.”