McClaren: We have it all to prove

Steve McClaren admits England have no right to regard themselves as good, let alone great on what they have achieved so far.

The head coach is aware that total humiliation is waiting if his underperforming side fail to beat the part-timers from Andorra in Barcelona on Wednesday - after a run of five games without a win that has seen England score just a single goal.

"We spoke after the World Cup about the expectations surrounding this team," he said. "We have done nothing and proved nothing yet. We will not be great, we will not even be called good, until we start proving it."

He added: "I never said these were great players. We haven't done it at the World Cup and we haven't done it in tournaments."

One of the players who certainly needs to start producing if he is to match the lofty expectation surrounding him is Wayne Rooney.

Although the Manchester United striker is the last England player to find the net - against Holland in November - he has not scored a competitive goal for his country since Euro 2004.

The tension appeared to be getting the better of the 21-year-old against Israel on Saturday as he clashed with Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim, a man he has enjoyed plenty of success against at club level this term.

However, McClaren can see no major problem with Rooney and confirmed their relationship remains strong.

"There is no rift between me and Wayne Rooney," he said. "It is an absolute load of rubbish.

"The relationship between myself and Wayne is probably one of the best between a player and a coach because I have worked with him for many years. We all know what he is and what he can be but all top players live on the edge as well."