Croatia v England - Match Preview

So for such an early game in the qualification group it is sure a biggie. England travel to Zagreb to take on a Croatian team that did the double over the country last time around and haven't lost at home in 35 games. Should be fun then...

England tuned up for this huge match with a trip to Barcelona to face the might of Andorra. Another lacklustre display saw England win but only after going in at the interval level and needing a double salvo from substitute Joe Cole.

They are without Steven Gerrard due to injury and Michael Owen due being inexplicitly left at home kicking his heels. Rio Ferdinand is expected to return to the centre of defence to partner John Terry with Wes Brown also returning to the side in place of Glen Johnson at right back. Ashley Cole will play on the left and David James will be in goal.

Joe Cole will surely start replacing the woeful and ineffective Stewart Downing. Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry will play in the middle of the park but then we come to one of the big question marks in the run-up to kick-off – who exactly will man the right flank?

There are three possibilities:

David Bentley – The man who should be playing is the biggest outsider of the trio. The Spurs' midfielder had a terrific season last time around for Blackburn. He looked like he was really kicking on and delivering some excellent crosses and was the right winger of the future. Somehow though David Beckham kept being picked ahead of him even though his legs have gone and the myth that Becks' can still deliver a mean cross still persists.

David Beckham – Probably the man who'll wear the #7 shirt tonight. Becks' should at best be a squad player these days but he still seems to be a starter in the eyes of our £6million a year manager. Playing in an extremely weak league week in and week out, he isn't being tested at the top level. You could very easily make the case that his performances for LA Galaxy haven't exactly been setting the Earth on fire either. Big plus points go in the experience box for him but that is the only place where he'd be above Bentley or Walcott for me.

Theo Walcott – The raw Arsenal youngster is a talent and his naivety might just be something we can exploit. Fabio keeps saying that England are playing with fear well we all know that youngsters play with no fear, they just play. That might be just what England need, someone to go out there and just play. He is still raw and his crossing and decision making isn't up there just yet but he might just scare the Croatians and give them something to think about because at the moment they are probably feeling extremely confident.

Take your pick Fabio (Beckham) and we'll see how it turns out. Up top Rooney will start even though he hasn't had a good game in an eon but will Defoe or Heskey partner him? They both have very different skill sets and Heskey might just get the nod.

Heskey without Owen for England – I still can't get my head around that but Fabio knows his stuff.

It all kicks-off at 8PM on Setanta Sports 1 – Yes I can hear you booing at the back. At least they don't have Craig Burley on England games so thank heavens for small mercies.

My Prediction – Croatia 2-1 England