Hiddink taunts FA as he plots Euro revenge

Despite England's impressive 3-0 win over Israel at Wembley on Saturday, the Russia coach claims McClaren's side will miss out on next summer's finals.

Hiddink has history with the FA after declining an invitation to be interviewed for the England job before they eventually picked McClaren, and he will have the chance to remind chief executive Brian Barwick of his achievements on Wednesday.

The Dutchman said: "We have a very tough group and I think that the three top teams in Group E are now competing for qualification.

"I wish England will be there because they are always good to have at a tournament, but realistically you have to consider Croatia because they are a very experienced side and have been together for many years. They do not lose many points."

Hiddink has something to prove after the saga surrounding the England job. It was claimed the FA suggested he should have a formal interview, a suggestion which infuriated his agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen.

"I told them it was an insult," he said. "They should be fully aware of what Guus has achieved at club and international level."

McClaren's side are third in the group, but they will move ahead of Russia if they manage to secure victory this week.

England's win over Israel was their most polished performance under McClaren, but they will have to repeat it if they are to beat Hiddink's disciplined team.

McClaren said: "We made Israel look ordinary and I hope we do the same against Russia. Guus Hiddink always has very well organised teams and they don't concede many goals, so the emphasis will be on us to produce another performance like that and make them look as ordinary as Israel.

"After our performance against Israel, they should be looking at us, knowing it was a good team performance, and a good result if they look at the table.

"They will be wary of us, but whether that's an advantage or a disadvantage we will only know after the game. We've still done nothing, although we have just put ourselves in a slightly better position. We need to follow it with another good performance. Winning after winning is the most difficult thing."

England's players reconvened at their Hertfordshire training base last night to prepare for the match.

McClaren, who fears Frank Lampard will not be fit in time after tearing his thigh 10 days ago, is also sweating on the fitness of Owen Hargreaves and Emile Heskey.

Hargreaves, who failed a fitness test on Saturday, is struggling but Heskey, who has reported back for duty with a sore hip, hopes to train at London Colney today.

England's triumph signalled an upturn in fortunes for McClaren, but his side have to build on that success. Hiddink, who will be forced to play his No 3 keeper Vyacheslav Malafeev because of injury to first choice Igor Aginfeyev and suspension to Vladimir Gabulov who was sent off on Saturday, claims his side will attack England.

Croatia head Group E with 20 points after goals from Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva secured a 2-0 victory over Estonia in Zagreb.

Russia beat Macedonia 3-0 and have moved into second place. Hiddink, who has previously taken Holland and South Korea to the semi-finals of the World Cup, admits his team is still in development.

Many expect the Dutchman to replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea if the Portuguese leaves Stamford Bridge next summer and Hiddink has stalled on a new contract with Russia.

He added: "I am a 60-year-old coach and I don't know what the future will bring. As long as I have the energy, or I receive the energy from the young lads, I am willing to work.

"England is very challenging, but the Russians want me to stay regardless of the results because they feel we are starting something new. I have not made up my mind to stay or go, or whether I should have a six- month sabbatical."