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World Cup qualifying: England out to make amends against Wales [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Cardiff (Reuters) - Battered pride and a private tirade from Sven-Goran Eriksson will be driving England forward when they face Wales in Saturday's World Cup qualifier.
England start the Group Six match less than three weeks after a humiliating 4-1 friendly defeat in Denmark prompted their manager to a rare outburst of anger in the changing room.
The players have since vowed to make amends for England's worst defeat since 1980, ironically to Wales, and which has left Eriksson with one of the trickiest tactical decisions of his four-and-a-half year reign.
Though he prefers a 4-4-2 line-up, striker Michael Owen's absence due to suspension and the failure of his understudy Jermain Defoe to make much impression in his 45 minutes against the Danes has raised a few doubts.
Add the fact that John Toshack's unfancied Wales side are likely to pack the midfield and Eriksson is now expected to deploy a 4-5-1 formation with Wayne Rooney as the lone striker.
The move would enable Eriksson to bring in live-wire winger Shaun Wright-Phillips on the right flank and push skipper David Beckham into his preferred role in the middle.
Losing an out-and-out striker would be offset by the fact that all five midfielders - Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Wright-Phillips are proven goalscorers. The latter three also play a 4-5-1 system at club level with Chelsea, supporting Didier Drogba.
The disadvantage is that Rooney's supreme talent for running at defences from deep positions will be sacrificed, with the 19-year-old starting out instead with his back to goal.
Eriksson, who has been known to switch formations during games, may yet deploy both formations and give Defoe another chance to add to his debut goal in Poland last September.
Whatever the tactics, England need to do the double over Wales after last October's 2-0 win at Old Trafford if they are to keep the pressure on group leaders Poland and off Eriksson.
England, who have a second qualifier looming on Wednesday against Northern Ireland in Belfast, are two points behind the Poles but have a game in hand. Poland meet Austria in Warsaw on Saturday.
GIGGS THREAT
Probably the their biggest challenge will be muzzling Wales and Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, a task that will fall to either promising newcomer Luke Young or the experienced Phil Neville.
Neville, who left United for Everton last month and could replace his injured brother Gary at right back, said: "When I was at United, he was the one player all full backs rated and dreaded playing against most.
"In terms of a one-to-one battle with a full back he provides the ultimate test -- I can't think of anyone else in world football who provides that.
"But Wales have got to get the ball to him as well. We've got good players all over the park and if we shut off the service to him that's half the battle."
Young, who made his England debut as a substitute in their May friendy win over the United States, could well get the nod after helping Charlton Athletic to an impressive start to the season.
Giggs will be looking to exploit the aerial power of striker John Hartson against a re-shuffled England defence, where Jamie Carragher is expected to come in for the injured John Terry.
Wales, without a win in six qualifiers, will be missing injured forward Craig Bellamy for what will be the 99th match against their old rivals dating back to their first meeting in 1879.
England have have won 63 times, Wales 14 times and 21 games have been drawn. It will be England's first visit to Cardiff since a 1-0 win in 1982, but Wales won their last home meeting in Wrexham in 1984 when a goal from Mark Hughes came them a 1-0 win.
Probable teams
Wales: Danny Coyne; Richard Duffy, Robert Page, David Partridge, Danny Gabbidon, Sam Ricketts; Carl Fletcher, Simon Davies, Carl Robinson; Ryan Giggs (capt), John Hartson
England: Paul Robinson; Phil Neville, Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Shaun Wright-Phillips, David Beckham (capt), Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole; Wayne Rooney
Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia)
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