McClaren: It's not over yet

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Two goals in four minutes from substitute Roman Pavlyuchenko turned the Group E qualifier on its head at the Luzhniki Stadium - following Wayne Rooney's opener - leaving England begging for a favour from Israel next month.

"This group is not over yet," he said. "It is out of our hands but it is not over. Russia still have to go to Israel and win. The pressure is still on them. We just have to wait."

He added: "As I have said all along, this group is decided over 12 games, not 10 or 11. Let's see where we end up."

It could be a long wait too for McClaren and his men, who are in the unhappy position of knowing their trip to Austria for a friendly on November 16, 24 hours before Russia tackle Israel, could be the only chance they get to play in one of the countries that will co-host the tournament.

And for that bleak picture, McClaren feels he has identified the cause in Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo and his 'disgraceful' penalty award.

England were in front and, in McClaren's eyes, in control when Cantalejo ruled Rooney tugged Konstantin Zyryanov's shirt inside the box midway through the second-half.

The foul was clear enough but replays showed it occurred outside the area. Pavlyuchenko levelled from the spot and when the Russian substitute netted again four minutes later, England's dreams were in tatters.

"It is an absolute disgrace," fumed McClaren, who ignored the fact Rooney was marginally offside when he put England in front with a first-half wonder strike.

"We were comfortable and they were running out of ideas. If that penalty had not been awarded, I am absolutely confident we would have won the game. We were in total control. Because of one decision, we went from being in a winning position to losing."