England critics have galvanised the team says McClaren

England are well placed to qualify for next year's European Championship while criticism of last season's displays has galvanised the team, coach Steve McClaren told Reuters yesterday.

England are fourth in Group E with 14 points from seven games, behind Croatia (17), Israel (17) and Russia (15).

"We've got ourselves in a very good position now, it's up to us, we have four of the five games (remaining qualifiers) at Wembley, we've got to make this count," McClaren told reporters.

"The next two (Israel and Russia) are so important."

McClaren has endured a bumpy ride since taking charge from Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson after last year's World Cup finals, culminating with media calls for him to be sacked after a 0-0 draw with Israel in March.

"Mac's Hell Aviv", "clueless" and "Isra-hell" were three of the newspaper headlines that greeted the national coach after a 0-0 draw with Israel in March.

The knives were still out for McClaren after a laboured 3-0 win over whipping boys Andorra four days later.

England were booed by their own fans at half-time in the Olympic stadium in Barcelona after a goalless first half and McClaren was subjected to abuse and vitriolic chanting for virtually the whole 90 minutes of a sterile display.

McClaren said the criticism had worked positively for his squad.

"Personal attacks are not a problem and you can deal with that, what upset me was the amount of criticism and the reaction.

"But it was also a spur for the players and team and there was something after that game that I thought, yeah, we might just come together as a team... as a squad here.

"After all the adversity and criticism that everybody received after Andorra, it seems to have just galvanised the team into a greater determination and to stick together, to play as a team and be a strong squad."

England's next two games, a 1-1 draw at Wembley in a friendly with Brazil, and a 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win over Estonia, brought improved performances and McClaren is optimistic the momentum can continue.

"I feel very confident... Brazil, Estonia was getting back to England as I know it, as I want it... each player wanted to wear the shirt," he said.

"But the biggest thing for me was we played as a team and that's what I want to stress to the players when they get together. If we play as a team, not individuals, we are a good team and we have a good chance.

"If we don't, if we play as individuals, yes we will win some games but we won't win the big games, we won't win qualification and we won't win tournaments."