Smith To Partner Crouch?

Knowing that a draw will do, does he pack the midfield with five and leave the Liverpool bean-pole to battle away by himself, or will he have a partner?

McClaren is in the "Last Chance Saloon" and simply HAS to make sure that he gets it right, for miscalculations at this late stage could turn nasty.

  
Crouch was probably already jotted down on McClaren's notepad before Owen even limped off on Friday.

Then, as soon as the final whistle sounded in Tel Aviv on Saturday it kicked-in that the England boss had better come up with the goods THIS time.

Jermain Defoe looks the obvious to be Owen's replacement but Defoe has started so few games for Tottenham this season.

The same applies to Darren Bent, called up yesterday to replace Owen, and surely not the man to pin your hopes on.

By the same token, Alan Smith's inclusion looks doubtful as well, the player having been mostly used in midfield for Newcastle so far. And his odd game in attack - as target man - has seen him struggle.

But, playing off Crouch, he wouldn't be a target man and perhaps we could see him at his strengths.

But one reporter said today, the team would chronically lack pace with Smith and Crouch paired together, a fact I'm not convinced.

Personally I think he will save Smith for the dying moments, and go with Steven Gerrard supporting Crouch from an advanced position.

The one thing going against Smith is his poor goalscoring record in an England shirt - only one goal in 19 appearances - although most of those appearances have been as substitute.
 
Although David Beckham was lacking match fitness on Friday, I think McClaren will go with the ex-Real Madrid winger and go for one up front. Crouch needs a steady supply up there in the clouds, and who is better than Beckham at doing it?

Yes, a clean sheet will do it, but without John Terry and Rio Ferdinand .. England are not Italy.

It's right to say on Wednesday "England expects" ... and I would hate to be in McClaren's shoes if it goes "tits up".