England relies on Israel, and McClaren needs miracle

Is under-fire England manager Steve McClaren (center) watching Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen train for the last time? AP

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The next week could be Steve McClaren's last as England manager. A 1-0 victory over Austria on Friday could be England's only visit to the Euro 2008 co-host country for the foreseeable future.

But on Saturday night, England is hoping Israel can draw or beat Russia. If the Israelis hold up their end, England's fate will be back in its own hands for its final qualifier, at home against Croatia, on Wednesday.

It'll be a difficult game against the group leaders, who defeated England 2-0 in Zagreb. England will also be without Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and first-choice center backs John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.

If Russia wins, England's hopes of yodeling through the Alps will be over, and McClaren will suffer the humiliating experience of a frustrated and agitated 90,000-capacity Wembley crowd berating him for 90 minutes next Wednesday with their fate (and probably his) already decided.

Meanwhile, if Scotland beats Italy on Saturday, cousin Hamish McLimey will be tooting his bagpipes in our faces as Scotland qualifies as the only home nation at Euro '08.

Looking back over McClaren's tenure as England manager demonstrates the need for change. Appointing Sven-Göran Eriksson's former assistant to the top position was always likely to mean a continuation of the old regime. McClaren's attempt to show how ruthless and removed from Sven he was -- by dropping David Beckham from his first squad -- backfired when he recalled the former captain.

The only time the England team really gelled was during wins over Israel and Russia in September, when McClaren was forced into change with the selections of Gareth Barry and forgotten man Emile Heskey.

Presuming that the starting lineup for the Austria friendly is also McClaren's choice for the potentially crucial Croatia game, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard will once again be paired together in central midfield at the expense of the in-form Barry.

This partnership often struggled under Eriksson; why McClaren persists with it is questionable. Is he purely playing safe by picking the big names? England needs new ideas, and not qualifying for Euro '08 could be the catalyst for the change the England regime currently needs.

Will England sack McClaren if it doesn't qualify? In the lead-up to the Croatia match, several England players have spoken out in support of the beleaguered coach. With Gerrard "certainly backing the manager," and Owen declaring, "He has my 100 percent support."

Are these words designed to show that they're always supportive of the England manager? Or perhaps they're primarily aimed at McClaren's successor?

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