England v Austria Old Trafford, 4.0For an equable man, Sven-Goran Eriksson made today's World Cup qualifier with Austria at Old Trafford sound remarkably like a grudge match. "The players want revenge (for) themselves, I want revenge (for) myself," said the England manager. Even an imaginary feud is welcome in the match if it makes the players bristle.

Austria, of course, are not the real enemy, even if they did capitalise on a David James mistake to take a draw in Vienna. England's hatred is of themselves and they seek restitution for the points taken from them, through their own failings, by the defeat in Northern Ireland last month.

"We will qualify during the next five days," Eriksson declared, encompassing Wednesday's game with Poland.

With suitable results elsewhere, a victory today could sweep the team to the World Cup finals as, at worst, one of the two best runners-up in Europe.

There is no satisfaction over the prospect because that loss at Windsor Park has already vandalised England's self-image. In a so-far feeble season, the side has yet to show that it can rally itself.

After the fiasco of the 4-1 loss to Denmark in a friendly, there were meaningful looks and spiky remarks, but the display was tame again when they won 1-0 in Wales. This time, as Eriksson knows, no one will be impressed by the words until the action on the field corroborates them.

The manager did not choose it, but the issue over his choice of centre backs has given a cut-throat tone to England's preparations. While Eriksson will not confirm that Rio Ferdinand is to be dropped so that Sol Campbell can return to partner John Terry, the situation in Group Six was too grave for him to act as the great conciliator and accommodate them all in a back three.

"All of them expect to be on the pitch," said Eriksson. "I understand that because you are talking about maybe the three best central defenders in the world."

The praise will not be much solace for Ferdinand but this is no time for anyone to be mollified.

"I expect two reactions: surprise and anger," the Swede said of the consequences when a celebrated name is omitted. "As a manager you are always happy when players are trying in training and matches to prove that you are wrong."

Ferdinand is not alone in needing to re-establish his reputation. "The three performances (this season) were not good enough with the players we have," said Eriksson. "I think they are angry with themselves.

"Of course, they have to play for the shirt every time. Now they have to play for the team, for themselves and for the fans. They have to play for everything because now it is very serious business. If we don't perform as we can, the risk is enormous. But we will perform."

All of that will be mere bluster unless England rediscover their lost fluency. "I think I know what went wrong," said the manager, although he refused to be specific. A reversion to 4-4-2 after the inert efforts in the 4-5-1 system should help, but the players have to combine more deftly, with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, for example, conscious of their relative positions.

There will be a call for greater appetite to be shown, but the hunger always has to be for excellence as much as aggression. England turn towards David Beckham, whose irresistible second-half form at Old Trafford four years ago snatched the draw with Greece that steered England to the last World Cup finals.

Much has changed since then and that may have been the unrepeatable display of his life. Eriksson asserts and hopes that the captain is not distracted by the illness of his three-year-old son Romeo. Beckham has been excelling for Real Madrid and it will be interesting to see if his crosses cause greater devilment with the target man centreforward Peter Crouch in the side.

Beckham's other contribution comes in a sacrifice. Having missed his last three penalties for England, against Turkey, France and Portugal, he now wishes to hand the responsibility to Lampard. The manager is liable to give his consent, knowing the midfielder is not employed by Real Madrid at penalties.

"David hasn't taken one for a long time; Frank always takes them for Chelsea," said Eriksson. "Beckham took it up with me two or three months ago. He was very convinced that Frank should take them. I was surprised, but he wants the best solution for England."

Everyone needs to come up with answers. "I think we let (the supporters) down," said Eriksson, "but you are talking about sport. It happens sometimes. It's important that it doesn't happen again in the next two games." No matter who happens to be standing over the ball at any penalties, the entire England team has to hit the mark at Old Trafford.

Guardian Service

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ENGLAND: Robinson; Young, Campbell, Terry, Carragher; Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, J Cole; Owen, Crouch.

AUSTRIA: Macho; Standfest, Scharner, Stranzl, Ibertsberger; Schopp, Kiesenebner, Weissenberger, Aufhauser, Ivanschitz; Linz.

Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).