McClaren promises different approach

Steve McClaren insists he will rebuild England in time for their next Euro 2008 qualifier in Israel.

McClaren has five months to pick up the pieces from this week's 2-0 defeat in Croatia but he is determined not to be distracted from the job he started in August. It was England's worst qualifying result for 13 years but the manager believes his players will learn from their experience and qualify for the finals in Austria and Switzerland.

McClaren said: "I think we can become a side which achieves things. 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."

McClaren worked as Sven-Goran Eriksson's coach when England's World Cup qualifying campaign was rocked by a shock 1-0 defeat in Northern Ireland last September.

The team recovered from the result to top their group and embarked on an unbeaten run of 11 games, which was not broken until Wednesday's game in Croatia.

McClaren said: "Under Sven we always had disappointing games and positions where qualifying was in question and the team responded. We have to stick together and for the next five months I have to take the criticism coming my way. It's part of the job."