KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Media critics sharpened the knives for England manager Steve McClaren today after their 0-0 draw with Israel in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
"One Holy Mess" declared the tabloid Mail on Sunday in a back page headline over a picture of a pensive McClaren walking off the
field with his head bowed after Sunday's Group E game in Tel Aviv.
"Clueless' blasted the Observer.
Newspapers highlighted fans booing and chanting "what a load of rubbish" and "you don't know what you're doing" after England slumped to their worst scoring run in 26 years with just one goal from five games.
"Mac's Hell Aviv" said the Sunday Express, seeing Wednesday's match with Andorra in Barcelona as crucial to the manager's future.
"England lacked conviction -- and at times energy -- and a point against a side with some players who are not even household names in their own parish is nothing to celebrate," it said.
"Anything less than a rousing win (against Andorra) and McClaren can expect the noose to be tightened around his neck," added the newspaper.
"Isra-Hell" was the News of the World back page headline that said McClaren "faces the wrath of the nation" after a game that dented England's chances of reaching the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.
England are third in group E with eight points. Croatia have 13 and Russia 11.
"Here was a timely reminder that England's performance in the last World Cup was actually abysmal," wrote Paul Wilson in the Observer.
"This was simply more of the same, always the danger in giving Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant his job..."
The Independent wondered whether England had in fact reached the point of no return. "Goalless and soulless: England on the brink," it declared.
The Sunday Times labelled the match "Euro Trash" while the Telegraph saw "England's Flops".
"After this awful performance.... it promises to be a perilous journey for England manager Steve McClaren, who may not even reach the end of his personal road," added the Telegraph.
The papers were also critical of McClaren's post-match confusion, with the manager suggesting the game had been lost before correcting himself, and reported angry scenes in the dressing room.
"He ranted and raved at the players, who just sat there with their heads down. I had my say too," the Mail quoted captain John Terry as saying.
- REUTERS
