England face Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria in a friendly in Vienna next Friday and then host Croatia in their final Euro 2008 Group E qualifier at Wembley Stadium on November 21.
Croatia lead the group with 26 points and have two matches to play, while England have 23 points with only one match to play and Russia 21 points with two to play.
If Russia beat Israel and Andorra in their remaining two matches, they will qualify, likely along with Croatia, even if England win at Wembley.
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"I still believe the Croatia game at Wembley will be the decider."
Steve McClaren,
England manager |
McClaren said he was still optimistic England would qualify for next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland.
"The main disappointment is that it is out of our hands," McClaren told reporters at a press briefing in Yarm, northeast England.
"But I always believed the game against Croatia would be the decider and I still think that.
"Russia have to go to Israel, a proud nation with a great home record, and we hope they get a result against Russia. The pressure is on Russia.
"Croatia still have to go to Macedonia and that is not an easy game. I still believe the Croatia game at Wembley will be the decider."
Lack of experienced players
McClaren, who flew to Los Angeles to check on Beckham's fitness last week, added: "His fitness is fine, his injury is fine and he is included in the squad because although he hasn't played many games recently he is a big game player.
"With John Terry and Rio Ferdinand out of the squad we are lacking experienced players."
Terry, England's captain who is currently recovering from knee surgery, is some weeks away from fitness and was omitted from the squad, along with suspended Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand.
Ashley Cole, Chelsea left back, was recalled after nearing fitness following the ankle injury he sustained in the qualifier against Estonia on October 13, while his Stamford Bridge teammate and fellow defender Wayne Bridge was also recalled after injury.
Owen Hargreaves, Manchester United midfielder, is another player back after injury after missing all five of this season's England games with a knee injury.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa) Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Sol Campbell (Portsmouth), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Nicky Shorey (Reading), Phil Neville (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United)
Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alan Smith (Newcastle United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).