D-Day for England.

ok... tml morn 4am (London tonight), England holds the advantage of making it to Euro 2008 together with qualified Croatia. but this game serves as a decider as who wld be group winners. England needs to win by 2 goals or more to win the group. Russia wld definetly take advantage of any slip-up by scoring more goals as expected away to Andorra.

on Saturday, England got a reprieve. Can they exploit it?

Manager Steve McClaren has so far refused to drop hints about his team selection, but he presumably knows whether David Beckham will keep his place, and if Paul Robinson will replace Scott Carson in goal. Beckham started against Austria in last Friday's friendly, but could be replaced by Shaun Wright-Phillips.

John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen will sit out this game through injury, Rio Ferdinand is suspended.

Visiting striker Mladen Petric is Croatian boss Bilic's only doubt after reporting ill on Monday.


BERN's verdict;

advantage is now handed back to the Englishmen after Israel last-gasp win against the Russians on saturday. alot of mind games, team news been going on the last 3-4 days. as always in any top-of-table clash, the home team has the slight advantage of winning the game. im banging the home support as the 12th player and hopefully for a 2 goal cushion for England to win the group. a England win would be enough. a draw wld still put England at a disadvantage but depending on how big the score for Andorra-Russia game which wld be played on the same night.

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