England - Croatia

From the bad squad with good players, Fabio Capello made excellent squad with the same players. Seven wins in group 6 from same number of games and goal difference 22 (26 goals scored and just four conceded!) raised national confidence and public already expects a fight for the trophy in South Africa. Capello solved the problem in attacking line with Defoe and Heskey (beside Rooney), but goalkeeper position remains as the biggest problem. Robinson, Green and Foster (including veteran David James) are not the names that can be equal with the other lines in the team. And after Saturday’s friendly against Slovenia, Capello was thundering on defense line that allowed average visitors to make some goal opportunities and finally to score five minutes before the end. Also, the fact Rio Ferdinand is injured won’t help. Midfield is fantastic, as always. Only dilemma for Don Fabio is who will take a place on the right flank, Lennon, Wright-Phillips or Beckham. In attack will be Rooney and one of the mentioned duo Defoe-Heskey. With three points here, England would be theoretically in WC, one point should also do the job, but home side will have additional motive. Steve McClaren's England lost a crucial qualifier to Croatia at a sodden Wembley in November 2007 - a result that cost the team a place at the Euro 2008 finals. Despite Capello’s trying to reduce the tension, press in both countries just add a fuel into the fire. So, players should be motivated, focused and probably very nervous.

Croatia hold a second spot in group 6, with three points more than Ukraine (visiting Belarus in clash earlier today), but also a game more. They’re in position where tonight’s win would guarantee play-off spot (and fight for the first place), but defeat would bring a nightmare. In recent campaign, they have five wins, two draws, while the only defeat suffered from England at their home, Maksimir 1-4. At Saturday, they played not so good game against Belarus (1-0 at home) where visitors probably deserved a point, but Croats were with their minds already at Wembley. It seems Croatian side is consciously raising the pressure for this encounter, probably counting on some errors on the pitch that can cause. Even national coach Slaven Bilic involved in the press war, pointing that under the leadership of the Italian coach the team lost to English nature! However, visitors will miss some key players. Midfield playmaker Luka Modric is injured, while right-back Corluka got a red card at Saturday’s game. Regular goalie Pletikosa is also out. Bilic doesn’t talk too much about tactic, but he’ll surely try to use English weakness in back line where his fast forwards like Olic, Eduardo, Srna or Pranjic can make some escapes and mess. However, visitors know how to play games like this and they’ll fight till the limits of fanaticism and if the things go wrong surely won’t give up.

Both sides will go for three points, hosts want revenge, visitors ticket for World Championship. Highest motivation in combination with the highest pressure usually produces goals on the pitch. And both sides carry an attacking style of play, so over seems as a logic conclusion. 2.10 at Betway, 1.98 at Pinnacle. High stake.

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Sunday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester City believe they have won the race to sign Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez and Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry - for a combined fee of £42m.(News of the World) 
And City are also lining up a £30m bid for Barcelona's Champions League-winning striker Samuel Eto'o.(The People) 
Barcelona are poised to offer £40m for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United could bid £15m for Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as a replacement for Carlos Tevez.(The People) 
AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti will this week be confirmed as the new manager of FA Cup winners Chelsea, with the club preparing to step up their chase of £50m Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero.(Mail on Sunday) 
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor is wanted by both Tottenham and West Ham.(The People) 
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez says he would like to join Liverpool.(Sunday Mirror) 
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants to lure Chelsea winger Joe Cole, who played under him at West Ham, to White Hart Lane.(The People) 
Chelsea and Liverpool are battling it out for Paris St Germain midfielder Stephane Sessegnon - who is rated at about £12m.(News of the World) 
Steve Bruce wants Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch when he takes the manager's job at Sunderland.(The People) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is willing to pay £8m for Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson.(Sunday Mirror) 
Fulham are set to make a £5m bid for Standard Liege striker Dieumerci Mbokani.(News of the World) 
Beaten FA Cup finalists Everton have been tracking Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.(News of the World) 
Liverpool's players have told manager Rafael Benitez that he should bring Newcastle striker Michael Owen back to Anfield.(The People) 
Newcastle defender Jose Enrique says he wants to stay at the relegated club.(Sunday Mirror) 
Everton are leading the race for Leeds United's £7m-rated midfielder Fabian Delph.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manchester United will not let midfielder Paul Scholes leave Old Trafford, despite reported interest from Stoke and Bolton.(The People) 
Bolton manager Gary Megson has made a £6m offer for Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone.(Sunday Mirror) 
Huddlestone will be part of a mass exodus from Tottenham this summer. The other players up for sale are Didier Zokora, Gareth Bale, David Bentley, Heurelho Gomes, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent.(Mail on Sunday) 
Sunderland's new manager will be encouraged to make a bid for Bent in the summer. (Sunday Express)
Manchester United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak is unhappy he has not had more first-team opportunities at Old Trafford and wants to go out on loan.(The People) 
Blackburn are facing up to the prospect of losing Benni McCarthy, Stephen Warnock and Chris Samba over the summer.(News of the World) 
However, Manchester City defender Tal Ben-Haim is likely to join up with his old boss Sam Allardyce at Blackburn.(News of the World) 
Portsmouth duo Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson are not yet willing to commit their futures to the club until they receive assurances from the club's prospective new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim.(Mail on Sunday) 
Blackburn are tracking Egyptian midfielder Mahmoud Abdel Razek Fadlallah, who is valued at £3.6m by his club Zamalek.( The People) 
Liverpool are chasing Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson. (Sunday Express)
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer is closing in on a free transfer to Birmingham. (News of the World) 
Birmingham want Cardiff striker Ross McCormack and Manchester United defender Danny Simpson as they prepare for life in the Premier League.(The People) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Portsmouth's prospective new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim wants to bring Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp back to Fratton Park.(Sunday Mirror) 
Manager Alan Shearer's future at Newcastle has been thrown into doubt after owner Mike Ashley put the club up for sale.(News of the World) 
England manager Fabio Capello says it was Theo Walcott's decision to play in this summer's European Under-21 Championship - a move which has angered his Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. (Sunday Express)
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who is a candidate for the Portsmouth job, is wanted by Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.(News of the World) 
Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has joined Eriksson in the race to become Portsmouth manager.(The People) 
Paul Jewell is being lined up for a return to Wigan, should manager Steve Bruce move to Sunderland.(News of the World) 
Bruce became interested in the Sunderland job when Wigan chairman Dave Whelan told him to cut the club's wage bill by £4m. (The People)
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is prepared to sign a new contract with the club and will hope that by saving Rovers from relegation, he can negotiate an improved transfer kitty.(The People) 
QPR have set their sights on Brazilian legend Zico as they look for a new manager, although former Ipswich boss Jim Magilton is favourite to land the job.(News of the World) 
Canadian multi-millionaire Jeff Mallett is looking to launching a takeover for Sheffield Wednesday.(The People) 
West Brom want £1m in compensation should manager Tony Mowbray join Celtic.(News of the World) 

AND FINALLY 

Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink was certainly a happy man after the FA Cup victory over Everton on Saturday - and who could blame him? After the game, the Dutchman was photographed in the Blues dressing room puffing a large cigar as well as dancing with club owner Roman Abramovich. "Roman was there and he danced with us as well. But, no, he didn't breakdance," said Hiddink. (Various)(News of the World)
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