The Football Association have had to accept defeat in their efforts to explore alternative dates for the FA Cup quarter-final replays in order not to affect Steve McClaren's England preparations.
Up to 14 of McClaren's 23-man squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra - and most of his first team - are set to be involved in the two replays next Monday night (GMT).
McClaren had planned for the squad to gather on the Monday for three days preparation before flying to Israel on the Thursday.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick, McClaren and FA director of communications Adrian Bevington spent time yesterday investigating any possible options but the congested fixture calendar meant there were no alternatives.
Bevington said: "The replay date has always been in the diary for the Monday night so the fact they are on that night is not a surprise to anybody.
"It's fair to say however that the way the fixtures have turned out has proved less than ideal, we are all very conscious of that.
"Brian Barwick, Steve and myself have spoken extensively on this subject over the weekend and looked into the fixture programme to see if there is anything fresh we can do, to see if there are any other options available to us.
"The fact is however there are no other slots available and we are faced with the quarter-final replays taking place on the Monday night and the players joining up with the squad very late after their games.
"We wanted to give Steve's preparations every chance, but we are in a unique situation in this country where there is almost no flexibility in the fixture programme.
"Steve knows himself from last season with Middlesbrough how this can work out - they were in the same situation as Tottenham are now."
Bevington said under FIFA rules, England were not entitled to call up players until midnight on Tuesday anyway.
There may be some solace for McClaren in looking back to the past however. The last time a significant number of England players were involved in a Monday night match ahead of a Saturday international was in September 2001. England went on to beat Germany in that World Cup qualifier 5-1.
Depending on his selection, up to 14 of McClaren's squad could be involved in the replays between Manchester United and Middlesbrough and Chelsea versus Tottenham.
The players are: Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Wes Brown, Stewart Downing, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge, Paul Robinson, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas.
McClaren had planned for the squad to gather on the Monday for three days preparation before flying to Israel on the Thursday.
FA chief executive Brian Barwick, McClaren and FA director of communications Adrian Bevington spent time yesterday investigating any possible options but the congested fixture calendar meant there were no alternatives.
Bevington said: "The replay date has always been in the diary for the Monday night so the fact they are on that night is not a surprise to anybody.
"It's fair to say however that the way the fixtures have turned out has proved less than ideal, we are all very conscious of that.
"Brian Barwick, Steve and myself have spoken extensively on this subject over the weekend and looked into the fixture programme to see if there is anything fresh we can do, to see if there are any other options available to us.
"The fact is however there are no other slots available and we are faced with the quarter-final replays taking place on the Monday night and the players joining up with the squad very late after their games.
"We wanted to give Steve's preparations every chance, but we are in a unique situation in this country where there is almost no flexibility in the fixture programme.
"Steve knows himself from last season with Middlesbrough how this can work out - they were in the same situation as Tottenham are now."
Bevington said under FIFA rules, England were not entitled to call up players until midnight on Tuesday anyway.
There may be some solace for McClaren in looking back to the past however. The last time a significant number of England players were involved in a Monday night match ahead of a Saturday international was in September 2001. England went on to beat Germany in that World Cup qualifier 5-1.
Depending on his selection, up to 14 of McClaren's squad could be involved in the replays between Manchester United and Middlesbrough and Chelsea versus Tottenham.
The players are: Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Wes Brown, Stewart Downing, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge, Paul Robinson, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Jermaine Jenas.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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