CROATIA: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - England and Croatia prepare for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifier

England manager Steve McClaren believes old-fashioned English virtues can end Croatia's unbeaten home run of 29 competitive matches when the sides meet in a Euro 2008 Group E qualifier on Wednesday. "We are looking for an English performance, a performance of pride, passion, attitude, character," he told reporters on Tuesday (October 10). Having reiterated he expected a reaction from the players after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Macedonia at Old Trafford on Saturday, McClaren admitted it would be a "big challenge". UEFA spokesman William Gaillard earlier on Tuesday warned Croatia could be expelled from Euro 2008 if their fans repeated racist behaviour such as forming a swastika with their bodies during the friendly with Italy in August. Captain John Terry said the team was equally determined to overcome a hostile reception in the cauldron of Dinamo Zagreb's 40,000-seater Maksimir stadium. "It's going to be a hostile place tomorrow night, obviously with the record they've got, they're a very good side and they've proven that over the last few years. We're coming here, we know it's going to be a tough game but we're really looking forward to this game now and it can't come quick enough for the lads," he said. Chelsea team mate Frank Lampard, who will win a milestone 50th international cap, also underlined England's determination to come away with a win. "When you come to these places you can either suffer with it and the team struggles or individuals struggle, or you can stand up as men as a team and sort of feed off of the atmosphere. Nothing better than coming to a hostile place and making it quiet and silencing the crowd." Croatian authorities have undertaken tight security measures designed to prevent any crowd trouble. Police have worked double shifts from Tuesday and have been ordered to detain any troublemakers. Traffic in the approaches to the stadium will grind to a halt several hours before kickoff at 1700 GMT on Wednesday.

ITN Source | October 11, 2006

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