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AUSTRIA 0 ENGLAND 1 - POST MATCH REACTION
Steve McClaren added star striker Michael Owen to an unhappy list of injuries, then vowed not to use absent friends as an excuse if England fail to reach Euro 2008.
Owen limped out of Friday's 1-0 friendly win over Austria in Vienna with a thigh injury.
Although the exact extent of Owen's problem is not known, McClaren knows his top scorer will not be fit for the potentially pivotal qualifier with Croatia on Wednesday, when victory will be essential should Israel resist Russia in Tel Aviv.
With Wayne Rooney and John Terry sidelined too and Rio Ferdinand suspended, McClaren knows he will be without at least four key men at Wembley, which can hardly aid England's qualification hopes.
At times, it appears McClaren is cursed but as he left Vienna tonight 24 hours before his side's fate is determined, the England coach still managed to put on a brave face.
"Injuries are part of football," he reflected.
"We have certainly had our fair share and not to have your best players available is not how you would choose to go into what I still believe will be the crunch game.
"But I am not making excuses. We have dealt with this type of situation before and we will do so again."
It is not hard to envisage what the reaction of Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce will be given the £18million forward ruptured cruciate ligaments on England duty at the last World Cup.
However, McClaren refused to blame the freezing conditions for Owen's latest injury blow.
"The conditions were perfect," he said.
"It wasn't even that cold. We trained at Arsenal on Thursday morning and it was colder than that. These things can happen."
Although Jermain Defoe is now a virtual certainty to partner Peter Crouch against Croatia, McClaren must decide whether to call in a replacement striker.
The options are not extensive, with Tottenham's Darren Bent more likely to be drafted in than England Under-21 duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott.
"We are short of strikers," said McClaren.
"We do seem to be plagued by injuries at the present time but I do believe, if we need to win on Wednesday, there is enough spirit and quality within our dressing room to do so."
McClaren was delighted to be able to give both Scott Carson and Ashley Young their debuts, while David Bentley was also introduced for David Beckham after an hour for his second cap.
Understandably, Beckham was hardly at full tilt, but McClaren is convinced the former Manchester United star will benefit from his first appearance for England - and his 98th overall - since August.
"David needed the game, everyone could see that," he said.
"It was difficult for him because he has not played for a while. But he lasted an hour and I believe he will be better for that. We will soon see in training on Monday and Tuesday."
McClaren also singled out Joleon Lescott, Sol Campbell and Micah Richards for special praise, while proclaiming Frank Lampard man of the match.
Although a large number of the 4,000 England fans left before the final whistle, the Football Association put it down to a series of departing flights diverted to Bratislava rather than any sleight against the manager.
However, while opposite number Josef Hickersberger offered some support to McClaren, even if he did declare the decision to partner Lampard with Steven Gerrard in central midfield as "risky", he also warned the beleaguered coach what to expect if England's hopes turn to dust this weekend.
"I hope the Croatia game means something to England, otherwise, yes, it will be embarrassing for them," he said.
"As co-hosts, Austria want England to qualify and that is what I told Steve McClaren.
"We all know, for them, this match was a preparation game for Croatia. But the important point is will they still be able to qualify or will they just be trying to salvage something of their reputation?"
Beckham, who was pleased with the workout against Austria, insists England's players have not given up hope of
Israel or Macedonia doing them a favour.
"You can never tell," he said on Sky Sports News. "They're two tough games.
"We're looking for Israel to hopefully do us a favour. But we're in this position, we've got to understand that we're in this position now and we do.
"It's just up to us now to try and put it right on Wednesday and other teams help us out."
Beckham acknowledged that should it all come down to the final game, it would evoke memories of England's last-gasp qualification for the 2002 World Cup, which his dramatic free-kick against Greece secured.
"People have already said that.
"But we've got a good team, we've got a good bunch of lads. We've got a bunch of lads who are going to stick together through this, whether it goes right or wrong for us."
By Bettingzone.co.uk
Used with permission.
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