England boss McClaren defiant

Steve McClaren has revealed his determination and that of England's players to 'prove people wrong' as he begins the countdown to their crunch European Championship qualifier in Estonia.

The former Middlesbrough boss walked out of his post-match press conference in the Olympic Stadium after barely a minute and has come in for heavy criticism with England's hopes of reaching the Euro 2008 finals in the balance.

But McClaren insisted he never contemplated quitting and now has his mind focused on winning in Estonia on June 6 with preparations getting under way with tomorrow's 'B' international against Albania at Turf Moor.

McClaren told PA Sport: 'Sometimes you have to go through adversity and you have to come through the downs.

'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 ensure 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 will be boosted by the return of striker Michael Owen after his 10-month knee injury and he will skipper the 'B' side tomorrow.

But the England coach is also taking the opportunity to use the game to blood fringe players such as Reading full-back Nicky Shorey and Blackburn winger David Bentley. And another long-term knee injury victim, Manchester United striker Alan Smith, will partner Owen.

McClaren 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.'