Beckham and Robinson pay the price as ruthless McClaren draws on his reserves at Wembley

It is the first time Beckham has been in an England squad but not in the team since the 1998 World Cup.

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On the fringes: a glum-looking Beckham (right) stretches during an England training session yesterday

And Robinson has played every competitive match since replacing David James in September 2004.

But Steve McClaren faces the sack if he fails to guide England to next summer's European Championship with at least a draw this evening and he has opted instead for Scott Carson and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Gareth Barry is also selected as a holding midfielder ahead of the injury-plagued Owen Hargreaves, but the selection of Carson and Wright-Phillips in a 4-5-1 formation represents the biggest surprise.

Goalkeeper Carson, as predicted by Sportsmail yesterday, will be making his competitive debut, while England players had expected Beckham to start, guaranteeing that he will win his 99th cap.

McClaren refused to make his team public yesterday, only telling his players last night.

The England boss noted how Beckham — who has just returned from a two-month absence from injury — struggled with his fitness in the Austria friendly last Friday and he also decided he could not afford to see the error-prone Robinson make another costly mistake.

McClaren said: 'There's a risk in everything. But a manager has to be pragmatic and realistic and sometimes big decisions have to be made.

'We've got a job to do against Croatia. I've made a decision.'

The suspended Rio Ferdinand, who has been asked to join the squad in the dressing room, has urged England fans to support McClaren and his players.

The central defender said: 'Get behind the team and hopefully we'll do the job. Then you can start analysing and dissecting the team on the way to the tournament.

'We're not through yet and it's going to be a tough 90 minutes.'