Our destiny is in our hands again

On Wednesday, England will take on Croatia at Wembley safe in the knowledge that a draw will see them qualify for the EURO 2008 finals next summer, and we have Israel to thank for giving us this chance, but it will mean nothing unless we do the business against Croatia. An win for England would see them top the group, which is quite astonishing, considering the dire situation everyone thought we were in this time last week. But that is the beauty of sport, it can change just like that and you have to take what it gives you. England have been given a second chance, let's take it!

But how do we take this chance? Do we play for a draw or go out for a win? There is no Owen or Rooney, so do we play Crouch up front on his own, or do we play Jermain Defoe alongside him. Stevie Mac has a lot to ponder, including whether to keep Beckham and Lampard in the side, or does he recall Barry and Wright-Phillips who have performed admirably in recent performances for England.

One thing is for sure though, England have a great group of talented players, but its not always the best players or the most talented players who make the best team. Stevie Mac has some tough decisions to make, so let's all hope he has the bottle to do it. Picking the players who make the team a better one is tough to do, but it is also hard leaving experienced players on the sidelines.

With the players we have, 4-4-2 doesn't really suit us. We have always had a problem down the left wing, and with fitting Gerrard and Lampard in the team. Joe Cole has done a fantastic job on the left, but it stifles his attacking threat. We should be picking genuine wingers, like Ashley Young, or players in his mould, with pace and a real attacking threat. However, if Stevie Mac wants to go with these players, I think playing a 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation is the way forward. Ben Foster, in my opinion, will end up as England's number one was recovered from injury, with Green and Carson as understudies, fullbacks will be Richards on the right and either Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge on the left, with Ferdinand, Terry and King in the middle. Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves or Michael Carrick will play the holding role, with 3 from Gerrard, Lampard and Joe Cole as the two attacking midfield options, and then, if fit, Owen and Rooney up front, with Crouch, Defoe, Bent, Johnson, etc waiting in the wings. I do not believe this is the best England team possible with the players available in the country, but with the players Stevie Mac seems to be going with, this seems the best way to get the best out of the players he has. Of course this won't work for the Croatia match as lots of these players are unavailable, but I think the pace of the players at Aston Villa is something England should take notice of that and think about building in a similar way to that.

That's a long term view, the short term is getting a result on Wednesday against Croatia, and getting to the EURO 2008 finals.