So, no Owen, no Rooney, Can England make it against Croatia?

ofcouse ... we do have other quality stirkers in the likes of crouch and defoe. we have beckham in the side so his crossing to crouch will be a valuable part to our win ..

1 point will be enough to qualify England, and i doubt Croatia, already qualified, will play the match of their lives

99% England will qualify

I wouldn't bet too much on it, though!

England only needs a draw, you dont always need strikers for that

Ha good point eurxe!

I hope we do it.

Do we deserve it, do we b*llocks.

I will be very happy to see England at next years Euro Championships make no mistake, however I also have a niggly little voice saying if we don't make it, it won't be so bad as McLaren would be gone. Or would he?

If we qualify, are England prolonging the inevitable agony of an early under-achieving exit?

Best case scenario - England qualify and we ditch Macca (realistically not going to happen)
Worst case scenario - England fail to qualify and Macca is still kept on (show me to that cliff top)

I'm sure Croatia will outplay England for 89mins but Gerrard will fly kick a Croat with the referee sending off the Croatian for simulation, free-kick to England. Beckham swings it in, bobbles about the box, hit Ferdinands lip and rolls in. 1-0 England. It would just sum them up

England should do it now, theres no excuses.

If I was Mclaren id play a five man midfield with Crouch up front

Beackham Lamps Hargreaves Gerrard Barry

That would be solid as feck and still have so much attacking power with the crosses Barry and Becks would hit in and Crouch, Gerrard etc on the end of them wouldnt be beyond them to nick a couple.

Also is the only way to play Gerrard and Lumpalard together too. And ive preferred Barry to Cole on purpose, Barry is much more suited to a game like this IMO, can mck in and do his job instead of going for glory.

I doubt your doubt about Croatia.

More of a case for Croatia to play thier best football yet, as they have no pressure on them.
Croatia to score 1st against a nervous England and then hopefully pull a goal back.

The winner off Rios lip and I will become a Man Utd fan.

Not betting on the result of this.

Not good that both our 1st choice central defenders are out. Plenty of good cover.

Wonder if he will pick Robinson again.

well ~ goals could be possibly coming from midfielders or defenders too ~ corner kicks!! XD

I'll go for 3-2 for England.

He has to pick the right team, formation and the players have to perform and there is no guarantee on it.
I mean you can motivate players as much as you want if they do not fancy it...
I can't see Croatia winning it at Wembley but a draw definitely.

1-1,or 2-2 draw

If lescott is in defence I can't see them scoring.


Final score

3 - 0

But it wouldn't bother me at all if it was 0 - 3

Robinson

2-Richards
3-Bridge
5- Lescott
6-Sol

7-Beckham
11- Barry
4-Gerrard
8-Lampard
9-Joey Cole
10-Crouch

I really don't no who are the danger players for Croatia, but they do have a few to watch out for

Bilic made a good point of saying he was going out to stop Beckham. If he plays 451, with Crouch up front, and stops the supply, goals will have to come from somewhere else.

Although he can't do much about his free-kicks.

I suppose they do,otherwise they wouldn't ve been in the top spot

Something tells me England won't make it. Looking at the probable names above I see a defensive attitude. Teams like Croatia will outplay you if you defend against them. You can only beat them if they are continuously pressed and given little time. They'll suffer only if you attack them. It's like Brazil - you let them play and keep the ball, and eventually they'll knock you out. You press them and give them little space and time with the ball, and attack them, and they'll probably lose (see the World CUp - Brazil vs France, which is an excellent example of this).

Croatia is a well-balanced squad. If they can counter England's midfield (which would be harder, I think, if England played two in attack), England really could be caught out.

Croatia have no pressure on them, they'd probably be happy to knock England out, and give Russia a hand. And it would be a laugh...

Need to watch out for Davor Suker. deadly

i'm born in moscow , i can only say Come on Croatia !

particularly when partnered with Alen Boksic

Yeah, attack Croatia, thats the only way. 433.
Just need to keep on eye on Boksic, Suker and Boban