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LONDON -- England will have to overcome key injuries and
criticism of its coach when it takes the field for its final chance
at qualifying for the European Championship. Israel's 2-1 victory over Russia on Saturday means England only
needs a draw against Croatia on Wednesday to reach next year's
tournament in Austria and Switzerland. Many British papers and commentators have suggested coach Steve
McClaren should be fired whatever the outcome. With Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand
unable to play at Wembley, McClaren is looking for a lift from the
80,000 expected to attend. "It's back in our own hands now and we really need the whole
country to get right behind the team over the next few days," he
said. Owen strained his thigh in Friday's 1-0 win over Austria -- an
exhibition that British papers and commentators long said was
unnecessary -- while Rooney injured an ankle in practice last week. With forward Emile Heskey also out with a broken foot bone,
McClaren will choose an attack from Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe,
Alan Smith and Darren Bent. McClaren is likely to be fired if
England's record of appearing at six straight major tournaments is
broken. Crouch is a sure starter after scoring against Austria, his 13th
goal in 23 internationals, but neither he nor Defoe has been a
regular pick for their teams in the Premier League this season,
while Smith has spent much of the past two years in midfield for
Manchester United and now Newcastle. Defoe has just three goals in 25 internationals, while Smith has
one in 19. Neither has taken to international soccer as well as
Owen, who seemingly revived England's chances of advancing when he
returned from injury to score three goals in September's 3-0 wins
over Israel and Russia. Bent, who has played just twice for England, was only called up
from Tottenham on Sunday as a late addition to the squad. McClaren knows Croatia kept Rooney and Crouch from scoring in a
2-0 win over England in October 2006, so he could push midfielder
Steven Gerrard up front to support Crouch. Gerrard isn't worrying. He just wants qualification. "We have been given another chance to qualify and that has to
motivate every player on Wednesday evening," Gerrard said. "If we
don't get there, it will be so frustrating."
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