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Average England will do just fine
by Jerrad Peters
10 September 2007

ENGLAND'S 3-0 victory over Israel at Wembley, Saturday, was hardly remarkable or awe-inspiring. It was not the sort of overpowering performance that has Russia trembling ahead of their midweek visit to the capital. That said, it was a comprehensive result which justified the balance of play on the field. It was, for lack of better words, exactly what should have been.

Steve McClaren has spent the entirety of his reign attempting to prod just such a performance from his players. The sort which vindicated both his team selections and the array of talent at his disposal. The sort which did not bring about the redundant post-match questions to which all had become accustomed and even desensitized: “What is wrong with England?”; “Why is Lampard still in the squad?”; “Why would you drop Beckham?”; “Why would you re-call Beckham?”; “What hope do England actually have of qualifying?”

For once, the England manager can answer questions about what is actually relevant – the next match. And, although there are still a handful of matches to play, it is one which England can not afford to lose. They have to keep on rolling. They have to deliver another performance which at least meets the standard of the personnel. Nothing more; nothing less.

Still, Russia will provide a far stiffer test than Israel. And it is one which England had better pass. It would be foolhardy for McClaren to assume that he could get a result in Moscow. After all, last autumn’s journey to Zagreb was a disaster. For a team which does not seem to travel well, a mere point from Lokomotiv Stadium would be a good result.

Of course, Guus Hiddink would like nothing better than to humiliate England at home and show the FA what they missed when they took a pass on his services and selected McClaren to succeed Sven-Goran Eriksson as England boss. He has a decent enough squad; but not one that should be cause for a great deal of concern.

Alexander Kerzhakov is Russia’s highest-profile forward. He plies his trade for Sevilla in La Liga and scored one of three Russian goals against Macedonia in Moscow on Saturday. The goalkeeper, Vladimir Gabulov, will miss Wednesday’s match through suspension and Viacheslav Malafeev will start in his place.

Should England get the expected three points, they will be two ahead of Russia; and assuming that Croatia defeats Andorra, three points adrift of the leaders. But, more to the point, they will have their fate back in their own hands.

It seems incredible. After such a difficult start to their qualifying campaign, England are on the brink of righting the ship within the space of four days in September.