After being the target for fans’ ire, England manager Steve McClaren will begin the preparations for their crucial qualifying campaign for the Euro 2008 with a match in Estonia on June 6, with his B team taking on Albania at Turf Moor, Burnley, on Friday. An international friendly against Brazil on June 1 will be next at the new Wembley.

Three Lions have not yet looked convincing in the Euro qualifiers and are yet to confirm their place in the finals. Overall, since taking over from Sven-Goran Eriksson after last summer’s World Cup, McClaren has yet to satisfy the England supporters, who have vociferously lashed out against the former Middlesbrough boss in the wake of tardy displays against Israel and despite winning 3-0 against Andorra two months ago.

McClaren has been criticised in the press to such an extent that the former Manchester United assistant boss had left a press conference in the matter of a minute in Barcelona’s Olympic stadium after Andorra match.

“Sometimes you have to go through adversity and you have to come through the downs,” said the 46-year-old former midfielder.

“What impressed me was the second-half performance of the players in Barcelona and, after the game, there was a great feeling amongst the players and the staff in that dressing room that we had come through a hostile atmosphere.

“That was a difficult game and a test and the players came through that - and came through it stronger than before.

“The only thing I regret is that there has been such a long break before we got back together, before we started playing again because you want to continue on from where we finished against Andorra.

“We had a good feeling after the game, a determined feeling that we were going to prove people wrong and we were going to turn things around and I still believe that.”

McClaren added: “Nobody likes what we had to endure that night and what we had to go through in that 90 minutes but it is something we had to - and we did - and we came through the other side and now need to take it on.

“Did I ever think about walking away? No, not at all, not in the slightest. That is football. Everyone has their opinion. Everyone has got their right to voice that.

“All we can do is perform to our best and try and win football matches and that’s we aim to do from now on.”

McClaren also hailed the character of Michael Owen, who will captain the side tomorrow, and Alan Smith for coming back fighting following long injury absence. So also, he showered praises on debutants David Bentley and Nicky Shorey.

He said: “Alan Smith also had an horrendous injury like Michael Owen and it really shows the character and attitude of these players to come back from bad injuries.

“He has got guts and he has got character. I saw him quite a few times for Manchester United at the end of the season and he impressed me, more so in his attitude.

“Alan Smith is one of those players who has got the experience and he can wear the shirt. It is not too big for him. He wants to play and it is great to have him back.

“This game is also great to have a look at players who are on the fringe of things, people who have had good seasons with their clubs.

“David Bentley is a player who has developed. Under Mark Hughes, he has really flourished and has come through. He is one of those right-sided players who has got a great right foot, a great range of pass.

“When the pressure is on, he will always want the ball, will always take the ball.

“I have been especially impressed by Shorey at left-back. He has looked very good. You’ve got to look to the future and there are always players out there who are late developers and Nicky Shorey is a perfect example of that.

“He was in a Reading side where no-one had played in the Premier League until last season and they have done superbly and so has Nicky personally.

“There are always players coming through and it is a boost for everyone else to see that they can get an opportunity with England.”