Hargreaves plots revenge on Croatia as Euro 2008 is TV turn-off for midfielder

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Owen Hargreaves admits he is already looking ahead to England's crunch World Cup qualifier against Croatia in September - and the chance to erase the bitter memory of the last two meetings with Slaven Bilic's side.

The Manchester United midfielder concedes he will find it hard to watch the approaching Euro 2008 finals after England failed to qualify, mainly as the result of a double setback to Croatia in their group.

But Hargreaves is aware England have to cut out the kind of mistakes evident in the countries' two meetings if they are to turn the tables and reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Heading in the right direction: England's coach Fabio Capello with midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

A mis-kick by Paul Robinson proved costly for England in Zagreb when they were beaten 2-0, and then Scott Carson's blunder gifted Croatia the opening goal in
their decisive 3-2 win at Wembley in November.

Hargreaves said: "I don't think I will want to watch the Euro 2008 finals.

"It will be difficult when you are watching the games and seeing your team-mates from club level competing in those games.

"The most important thing is we improve, improve on the past and improve on the mistakes we have made along the way.

"The first game is Andorra away but that Croatia away game will be a big game
for us. I hope we will have learnt from the past because that moment when we
lost in Croatia was the start of something when you look back.

""That is something the players are looking forward to.

"Losing away and losing at home to Croatia in the fashion we did is something all us players will have not forgotten. We want to put that right."

However Hargreaves is optimistic England are heading in the right direction under Fabio Capello.

He said: "We've got a great manager in place with a lot of experience.

"There is an optimism within ourselves as a group. If we can keep the squad of
players we have together, with a few additions along the way, then we can be a very dangerous team for anyone.

"But qualifying campaigns are long, tournaments are very difficult, the best of the best, and there is a fine line between winning and losing at this level."