We Must Fear the Unthinkable, Warns Mcclaren

The terror of failing to qualify for Euro 2008 has receded but Steve McClaren will still try to instill healthy fear in his players before Wednesday's game with Croatia at Wembley, from which England need only a point. The circumstances remind him strongly of the anguish and eventual thrill of England's World Cup qualifier with Greece at Old Trafford in October 2001. A draw, as it turned out, was all that was required then, and McClaren, as Sven-Goran Eriksson's coach, watched from the dugout.

"Greece had nothing to play for and that was another of those nerve-racking moments," he said. England were behind until the unforgettable David Beckham free-kick in the third minute of stoppage-time ensured automatic qualification. "I hope it doesn't come to that," McClaren mused, "but that's how dangerous Croatia could be. It's the first thing I'm going to stress to the players." Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole started that afternoon and are still available this time.

Beckham may be denied the opportunity to recreate that moment. His showing against Austria on Friday after injury was, in the kindest interpretation, uneven, yet only three of his 98 caps have come as a substitute and this would be the first time since he established himself that, when in the squad, he has been stripped of his status as a guaranteed starter.

"Because of so many injuries," said a guarded McClaren, "players have come in and done a job. The likes of Gareth Barry and Shaun Wright-Phillips have created competition. We've picked players, David included, who want to be part of the squad. It's up to performances whether they play or not."

No issue, all the same, can feel quite so grave since the substitute Omer Golan's stoppage-time winner for Israel over Russia guaranteed that England will reach the finals in Austria and Switzerland so long as they do not lose to Croatia, who have already qualified. Few will share the defiant faith of the Russia coach. "I expect Croatia to win, I expect them to show their commitment and quality," said Guus Hiddink, whose team travel to play Andorra on Wednesday.

The tension of Israel's match had been too much for McClaren to bear as he attempted to sit through the TV coverage at home in Yarm with his sons. The manager saw neither Russia's potential winner, when Dmitri Sychev hit a post, nor, moments later, the decider from Israel.

"I had actually slipped to the bathroom," McClaren confessed. "I couldn't watch the last 10 minutes. My boys had a big cheer [when Israel scored] and I thought it was actually the end of the game. I just cannot believe the whole nation sat through 95 minutes. I don't know how they could. I have never been a good watcher of matches."

In the usual managerial fashion he argues that any misfortunes encountered by Russia are more than equaled by prior moments of ill luck for England. The momentum is now with his team and he expects his men to seize control. "We have to go out to win the game," he said. "That's what we have been doing in the second half of the qualifying campaign. That has got us results. It's not in England's nature to play for a draw."

The need for camaraderie on this occasion is not lost on McClaren, and various individuals who are suspended or injured, such as Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, will all be invited to accompany the squad. Other additions come in the form of players who have now been called in. Owen Hargreaves cannot play two matches in quick succession because of a knee problem but he is available after missing the trip to Vienna. Tottenham's Darren Bent has also been summoned because of Owen's injury.

Although qualification is the key, McClaren regards the Croatia match as a night to unify everyone. It may, too, create a more stirring atmosphere than has yet been witnessed at the new Wembley. A manager whose future was in grave doubt until Saturday night can now deliver a rallying call. Israel's win truly has had extraordinary consequences.