England and Bayern Munich midfielder

I have no doubts that managing England is one of the most difficult jobs in the world.
By Owen Hargreaves

Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic job to have and there are great players in the squad.

We obviously need to improve before the next game. But you can't just expect to turn up and beat teams like Spain

But in England the pressure is so intense. You are expected to win every game you play, no matter who it is against and no matter what situation. I can only think of Italy where the pressure is similar.

I'm sure manager Steve McClaren has been in football long enough to know that he was going to come in for some criticism after England lost to Spain last week.

Any time England have lost in the last five or 10 years, or probably even longer, the manager has come in for some stick after.

I think he is probably used to the criticism. The players and the staff and everyone who has been around England for a while understand the way things work and know that it won't always be great.

It's not as easy as saying 'we're England, we're gonna go on the pitch and win'.

This is Spain we were playing against, a great team with some great players and they played very well on the night and deserved to win the game.

England were booed off and every time the fans are unhappy you notice. They want to see you win and the players would love to win every game but there are some pretty decent teams out there.

I'm not saying it is a bad thing to have that expectation, in fact, it should be a positive thing, but at times it is not so easy out on the pitch.

I actually thought we started the game against Spain very well but as it went on they got more comfortable and we played OK, we just didn't really look like scoring goals and didn't create any clear-cut chances.

That's the main thing we need to work on, although we looked very comfortable at the back with Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate.

Spain are very good at keeping possession and they did that well against us. Anyone who thinks we should just turn up and beat teams like Spain has now seen how difficult it can be.

Whenever you have players adapting to a new set-up it takes time. Steve has been around the squad for a long time and he knows the players but it is so tough to judge someone on just a couple of games.

We obviously need to improve for the next game and hopefully we can do that when we next get together.

As for me, although I didn't play in the game, it was great to be involved with the squad again after being injured for so long.

I spoke to Steve McClaren on Tuesday. He likes to know how I'm progressing after the injury

There is a great atmosphere within the camp, it's very enjoyable linking up with the boys and it's a very talented squad.

I think everyone involved with England is optimistic the team should do well and that's how it should be every time you meet up.

As for the whole Joey Barton issue about whether there might have been a problem between him and Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, there was nothing at all.

When you get on the pitch and you are playing for England everyone wants to do well and win and we are a group that sticks together.

A lot is said outside the squad when it comes down to football matches but within the camp there is not a great deal talked about.

We don't have much time before games like this but we spend our time in meetings, training, having treatments and massages and just trying to relax and prepare as best you can.

Everyone has their own room in the hotel and it has been like that since I first joined up with the squad. It's good to have your own space and it's a good place to be around.

Obviously, any time any team loses, people are disappointed but it's very different after a friendly and straight after the game the players and staff all go in separate directions because you are not travelling together.

I spoke to Steve McClaren on Tuesday, he rang me to see how I was doing.

He keeps in close touch and likes to know how I'm progressing after the injury, so we keep in close contact.

He wants to see me back playing and I am keen to get back for the important Euro 2008 qualifiers in March.

I have to play some games for my club between now and then and it's possible the manager will come out to Germany to see me play once or twice for Bayern Munich before then.

As for Euro 2008, I'm very confident England will make it there, you have to be with our players.

What's gone is gone, it's in the past, we need to be optimistic and play to our strengths and we should be fine.

I think we can win Euro 2008, too. I don't think many people would have predicted France and Italy being in the last World Cup final but there's such a fine line between winning and losing.

We've got the talent, we just need to get past that quarter-final stage. Then, anything is possible.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

If you could play in any football match ever, which one would it be?
Matthew, England

What a question! I've been lucky enough to play in some big games, a Champions League final, a World Cup quarter-final.

But part of it is getting there, winning group games, the knockout games, so I don't think it would be the same just to play in one game, it's the whole experience that is a highlight.

Hi Owen. Do you believe that David Beckham still has something to offer the England team?
Paul Goodale, UK

Everyone knows about Beckham's quality and he was England captain for such a long time because of these exceptional qualities that he has.

But the manager has decided to go in a different direction and it's not for the players to say otherwise.

One thing I will say is that I think Becks is the greatest passer I've ever played with and I've played with some great players. That's remarkable in itself.

If you were forced to choose one change to the current game by Fifa then what would it be? Goal-line cameras? The offside rule?
Denny Carr, England

There are a few things that could be changed. It's so difficult in the modern game to score goals, it seems a shame that sometimes if you do score it isn't allowed. I don't think goal-line cameras would hurt.

As for the offside rule, that is absolutely bizarre at the moment. It's hard to figure out at the best of times, so people need to find a bit of common ground on this.

Owen, as a keen Manchester United supporter and a subscriber to MUTV, I see a lot of their youths play and there are some great prospects coming through. Do Bayern have any young prospects that we should look out for in the coming years?
Martin, Ireland

It's tough to say. It's hard for young players to come through at big clubs. In England maybe it's more likely because younger players are given a chance but in Germany I think they are a bit behind in that regard.

It's about getting a chance and playing on a regular basis. But there is so much pressure to get results at big clubs so it's difficult for young players to grow in that environment. I can't think of anyone training with us right now who might make the breakthrough.

We recently saw John O'Shea go in goal for Man Utd when Edwin van der Sar was injured. Would you take over in goal in the same situation and how do you think you would play?
Chris O'Connor, Northern Ireland

Well I grew up playing football in Canada and because it's so cold we have two seasons, one indoors and one outdoors.

The indoor one is like an ice hockey rink, with boards and you play six against six, and one season our keeper got injured and I took over for quite some time and I loved it. I really enjoyed testing my reactions and things.

But nowadays the players are so good and when you have got Cristiano Ronaldo shooting the ball and you don't know where it's going to go, I would rather be at the other end hitting it and not saving it!

Every week Owen will be answering a selection of your questions in his column. So, using the postform at the top of this column on the right, send us your questions and we will put some of them to the England international.