Post by Taxigirl on Oct 8, 2005 9:00:47 GMT
soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=178929&cc=5739
England can qualify for the World Cup by beating Austria at Old Trafford on Saturday but the stadium would be dark and empty by the time their place in the finals was confirmed.
England's first task is to make amends for a dire 1-0 defeat in Northern Ireland, which cast them five points adrift of Group Six leaders Poland.
If that is achieved, their second will be to cross all available fingers and hope the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic in Group One, a Prague result that would send England through as one of Europe's best runners-up with a game to spare.
Should both results go their way, the happiest man in England would undoubtedly be a Swede.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose stewardship of the national side has been attacked by an increasingly hostile press, could then afford to relax before Wednesday's final qualifier with Poland.
However, there is much work to do before that.
Austria came back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with England in Vienna last year and almost did the same with a storming finish in losing 3-2 to Poland last month.
England are also short of form and confidence and missing three first-team regulars.
The absence of inspirational striker Wayne Rooney due to suspension will be the main handicap, but the loss of full backs Ashley Cole and Gary Neville to injuries are also real setbacks.
Towering striker Peter Crouch is expected to replace Rooney, a move that should restore a long-lost aerial threat and provide the kind of support Michael Owen once enjoyed from Emile Heskey.
Luke Young did enough in Belfast and a 1-0 win over Wales last month to again replace Neville, while the versatile Jamie Carragher is expected to fill in at left back.
Eriksson faces a dilemma in central defence, where he is tipped to prefer John Terry and Sol Campbell, back after a year plagued by injuries, ahead of Rio Ferdinand, currently struggling with his game at Manchester United.
Much of the criticism heaped on Eriksson recently has been down to some unconvincing tactical experiments but having said he will probably revert to the 4-4-2 his players prefer, Joe Cole should return to the left flank, with Chelsea team mate Frank Lampard and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard in the middle.
BECKHAM'S HOMECOMING
After trying his luck in central midfield, David Beckham will move back in the wide right position where he was outstanding for Real Madrid in the Champions League last month.
The role will not be the only familiar aspect of Saturday's game for the England captain.
Beckham always relishes playing at his former Manchester United home and the scene of his memorable last-gasp free kick against Greece which sent England to the 2002 World Cup finals.
Should they slip again on Saturday they could still secure one of the best runners-up slots by beating Poland, who would by then be crowned group winners, on Wednesday.
Double failure would leave England to take their chances in November's playoffs.
For Austria, last week's sudden removal of coach Hans Krankl has left Andreas Herzog in caretaker charge of a team with no chance of qualifying and only Euro 2008 - which they will co-host with Switzerland - to look forward to.
Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz is suspended while first choice goalkeeper Helge Payer injured a thigh in training and is likely to be replaced by Kaiserslautern's Juergen Macho.
Herzog sees the game as a character test for his players and says they should look to Northern Ireland's upset win as inspiration.
'After these 90 minutes we will know something about the courage of this team,' he said.
Probable teams:
England: Paul Robinson; Luke Young, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Jamie Carragher; David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole; Michael Owen, Peter Crouch.
Austria: Juergen Macho; Joachim Standfest, Paul Scharner, Martin Stranzl, Andreas Ibertsberger; Markus Schopp, Markus Kiesenebner, Markus Weissenberger, Rene Aufhauser, Andreas Ivanschitz; Roland Linz.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
England can qualify for the World Cup by beating Austria at Old Trafford on Saturday but the stadium would be dark and empty by the time their place in the finals was confirmed.
England's first task is to make amends for a dire 1-0 defeat in Northern Ireland, which cast them five points adrift of Group Six leaders Poland.
If that is achieved, their second will be to cross all available fingers and hope the Netherlands beat the Czech Republic in Group One, a Prague result that would send England through as one of Europe's best runners-up with a game to spare.
Should both results go their way, the happiest man in England would undoubtedly be a Swede.
Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose stewardship of the national side has been attacked by an increasingly hostile press, could then afford to relax before Wednesday's final qualifier with Poland.
However, there is much work to do before that.
Austria came back from two goals down to snatch a 2-2 draw with England in Vienna last year and almost did the same with a storming finish in losing 3-2 to Poland last month.
England are also short of form and confidence and missing three first-team regulars.
The absence of inspirational striker Wayne Rooney due to suspension will be the main handicap, but the loss of full backs Ashley Cole and Gary Neville to injuries are also real setbacks.
Towering striker Peter Crouch is expected to replace Rooney, a move that should restore a long-lost aerial threat and provide the kind of support Michael Owen once enjoyed from Emile Heskey.
Luke Young did enough in Belfast and a 1-0 win over Wales last month to again replace Neville, while the versatile Jamie Carragher is expected to fill in at left back.
Eriksson faces a dilemma in central defence, where he is tipped to prefer John Terry and Sol Campbell, back after a year plagued by injuries, ahead of Rio Ferdinand, currently struggling with his game at Manchester United.
Much of the criticism heaped on Eriksson recently has been down to some unconvincing tactical experiments but having said he will probably revert to the 4-4-2 his players prefer, Joe Cole should return to the left flank, with Chelsea team mate Frank Lampard and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard in the middle.
BECKHAM'S HOMECOMING
After trying his luck in central midfield, David Beckham will move back in the wide right position where he was outstanding for Real Madrid in the Champions League last month.
The role will not be the only familiar aspect of Saturday's game for the England captain.
Beckham always relishes playing at his former Manchester United home and the scene of his memorable last-gasp free kick against Greece which sent England to the 2002 World Cup finals.
Should they slip again on Saturday they could still secure one of the best runners-up slots by beating Poland, who would by then be crowned group winners, on Wednesday.
Double failure would leave England to take their chances in November's playoffs.
For Austria, last week's sudden removal of coach Hans Krankl has left Andreas Herzog in caretaker charge of a team with no chance of qualifying and only Euro 2008 - which they will co-host with Switzerland - to look forward to.
Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz is suspended while first choice goalkeeper Helge Payer injured a thigh in training and is likely to be replaced by Kaiserslautern's Juergen Macho.
Herzog sees the game as a character test for his players and says they should look to Northern Ireland's upset win as inspiration.
'After these 90 minutes we will know something about the courage of this team,' he said.
Probable teams:
England: Paul Robinson; Luke Young, Sol Campbell, John Terry, Jamie Carragher; David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole; Michael Owen, Peter Crouch.
Austria: Juergen Macho; Joachim Standfest, Paul Scharner, Martin Stranzl, Andreas Ibertsberger; Markus Schopp, Markus Kiesenebner, Markus Weissenberger, Rene Aufhauser, Andreas Ivanschitz; Roland Linz.
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)