Owen eyes Croatia revenge

Midfielder doesn't want to see Euro 2008 qualifying mistakes repeated

Last updated: 2nd June 2008

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Hargreaves: Excited by future

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Owen Hargreaves hopes England will have learned from past lessons when they face Croatia in September.

Croatia ruined England's prospects of featuring in Euro 2008 this summer after a 3-2 win at Wembley last autumn.

Slaven Bilic's side also won 2-0 at home and the two countries will meet again in the qualification programme for the 2010 World Cup.

Though Fabio Capello's first competitive match comes against Andorra on 6th September, Hargreaves has his sights fixed on the trip to Croatia four days later.

Big moments

"I think the most important thing is we improve, improve on the past and improve on the mistakes we have made along the way," said Hargreaves.

"There were some big games and some big moments in the last qualifying campaign.

"The next qualifying campaign will be a big one especially after such a disappointing one the last time around and we will focus on that and try and finish top of the group.

"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.

"We've got another friendly leading up to that (against the Czech Republic), but that Croatian game will be the big game.

"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."

England have won three out of four friendlies since Capello replaced Steve McClaren as coach, and Hargreaves feels the future is promising for the national team.

Exciting time

The midfielder added: "I think it is an exciting time for England. We've got a great manager in place with a lot of experience - experience at the highest level.

"He would be the first person to point out our mistakes and make sure we don't do them again and I am excited about the future.

"We are all quick learners. We are used to having different managers and different team-mates and we will have to learn as quickly as possible.

"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 I think 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."