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McClaren hints at revamping squad | McClaren hints at revamping squad |
(about 7 hours later) | |
England coach Steve McClaren may bring in some Under-21 stars to freshen up his squad following the Euro 2008 qualifying defeat to Croatia. | England coach Steve McClaren may bring in some Under-21 stars to freshen up his squad following the Euro 2008 qualifying defeat to Croatia. |
England have two friendlies before their next Group E match in Israel. | |
"There are players in the Under-21s knocking on the door, we will be looking at them very, very closely." said the England coach. | |
But McClaren has cancelled a planned fact-finding trip to the USA to focus on watching Premiership players. | |
England's next friendly is against Holland in November with another match scheduled for February. | |
Max Clifford, an advisor to McClaren, has even hinted that former skipper David Beckham could make a return to the England team. | |
Beckham has not figured for England since McClaren succeeded Sven-Goran Eriksson as coach after the World Cup. | |
We have to look at the young talent coming through and there's a lot of it Steve McClaren | |
Several of the Under-21 team showed their capabilities as they qualified for the European Championships on Tuesday after beating Germany 2-0 in Leverkusen. | |
Arsenal striker Theo Walcott scoring both goals while West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker also staked his claim with an impressive game. | |
"We will use the two friendlies effectively and maybe our approach will be different in some respects," said McClaren. | "We will use the two friendlies effectively and maybe our approach will be different in some respects," said McClaren. |
"You have to get the right people on the bus going in the same direction and that's staff and players. | "You have to get the right people on the bus going in the same direction and that's staff and players. |
"We have to look at the young talent coming through and there's a lot of it. | "We have to look at the young talent coming through and there's a lot of it. |
"Getting them as a team is the biggest thing. We talked about playing as a cohesive team and we haven't achieved that yet." | "Getting them as a team is the biggest thing. We talked about playing as a cohesive team and we haven't achieved that yet." |
McClaren has been heavily criticised for his team selection and tactics for the Croatia game, but he is confident performances will improve. | McClaren has been heavily criticised for his team selection and tactics for the Croatia game, but he is confident performances will improve. |
"I think we can become a side which achieves things," said McClaren. | "I think we can become a side which achieves things," said McClaren. |
"We have to use the friendlies and really get into individuals and the squad, get into what wins and what will win, so that when we get to the qualification games in five months, the approach is different. | "We have to use the friendlies and really get into individuals and the squad, get into what wins and what will win, so that when we get to the qualification games in five months, the approach is different. |
"We have learned from all the experiences in the last four games and will make sure we are going in the right direction." | "We have learned from all the experiences in the last four games and will make sure we are going in the right direction." |
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