Soccer teams angle for Euro '08 position

                                                                                         

Robert MillwardLondon, England (AP) - Qualifying for the 2008 European Championship is just past the halfway stage, and most of the leading teams are rising to the top of their groups.In Wednesday's qualifiers, three-time winner Germany can go five points ahead in Group D, while World Cup winner Italy, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, France and defending champion Greece all are well-positioned to finish in the top two spots in their groups and advance. England is the exception. It is fourth in Group E and likely to stay there even if it wins at Estonia. With David Beckham playing his first competitive game for England since last year's World Cup, coach Steve McClaren's team is at least three points behind the top three teams. Leader Croatia, which is unbeaten in 32 competitive games at home, hosts third-place Russia and second-place Israel will be confident of winning at Andorra, which is last after losing all six of its games. Estonia also has lost all six matches, so if England doesn't win it could end McClaren's 10-month stint as coach. Midfielder Steven Gerrard says it's up to the players to help McClaren keep his job. "A manager can only do so much," Gerrard said. "We've got to get out there and take the heat off him. We are the so-called best players in England. We're getting picked to go out there and do a job. To be honest, Steve has been good since he took over."

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