England can all but book their World Cup finals tickets today if they can take full points against Kazakhstan in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
After the humiliation of missing out altogether on Euro 2008, on the back of yet another unfulfilled dream at the World Cup two years earlier in Germany, pride has been restored even if it took an Italian, Fabio Capello, to do it.
Five wins in as many games have the 1966 champions cantering in Group Six with a five-point cushion over a second-placed Croatia side they have already thumped away from home while third-placed Ukraine lag another three points further behind.
With little Andorra arriving at Wembley next week, six points from the two games would see England home and dry.
Yet Almaty represents a trip into the unknown and with Croatia expecting to close the gap by seeing off the Ukrainians at home, England now need to close the door with only the group winners guaranteed to go through.
Liverpool star Steven Gerrard says that with Capello at their backs England are mentally ready for the task ahead against a side they beat 5-1 at Wembley, albeit after a sluggish opening.
“We need to approach them with the right attitude and get the job done,” Gerrard told FA.Com. “If we win these two games, we will be three points away from qualification with three games to play and that puts us basically in the driving seat.”
International teammate Frank Lampard said England had been reassessing the Wembley meeting, conceding that “we were not at our best” on that occasion.
Even at the end of a long campaign that culminated in him landing the FA Cup with Chelsea Lampard said he was itching for action.
“Everyone is fit and fresh and, whether they have lost or won cup finals with their club teams, they are very focused,” he said.
England are without first-choice goalkeeper David James, who has undergone shoulder surgery — Robert Green is set to deputize — and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who has a calf problem, meaning a chance for Everton’s Joleon Lescott or West Ham’s Matthew Upson to impress alongside John Terry.
As England race onward toward the finals their recent nemesis, Portugal, can only wish they were in their shoes. The Portuguese, who ended English hopes at Euro 2004 and then in Germany two years later, have had a near disastrous campaign under former Manchester United assistant Carlos Queiroz and will be on the verge of elimination if they lose Saturday in Albania.
One win in five games means Cristiano Ronaldo and company stand third, seven points behind Denmark and a resurgent Hungary.
With a trip to the Danes, who beat them in Lisbon, to come Portugal are at crisis point after three straight goalless draws — including one at home to the Albanians.
“We have confidence in abundance,” Queiroz told reporters on Thursday. “Mentally, physically, technically, we are fine. [But] there will have to be more intensity, quality and rhythm.”
With Sweden level on points and with a game in hand on his men ahead of their home match with the Danes today, Queiroz said: “We can’t guarantee the result — but we do guarantee 90 minutes of quality football and hard work.”
Portugal’s Valencia star Miguel insisted that although “we are struggling to gel as a team and have been a bit short on luck we have it in us to win the five games that can take us through.”
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