England's big dilemmas for Wednesday

Scott Carson or Paul Robinson? If McClaren had possessed enough courage to blood Carson in the friendly against Germany at the start of the season, he wouldn't be facing the dilemma he is now.

Recalling the error-prone Robinson is a real worry for a game of such importance, but it's also asking an awful lot of Carson to make Croatia on Wednesday his first competitive appearance. Especially when he had so little to do against Austria on Friday. Imagine if he made the mistake that cost England a tournament. Imagine the reaction, however, if Robinson makes another blunder. Last night McClaren refused to give Robinson his public backing, but the more likely scenario will see the Tottenham keeper return.

DEFENCE

Not much room for manoeuvre here when John Terry is injured, Rio Ferdinand is banned and Ashley Cole, while in the squad, short of match fitness. The back four is a worry for McClaren, but Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott, Sol Campbell and Wayne Bridge looked solid enough against Austria and are therefore expected to continue.

McClaren could deploy Wes Brown at right back and move Richards inside but you then lose the Manchester City man's attacking threat. The absence of key men will nevertheless concern McClaren and possibly encourage him to play a holding midfielder in front of them.

MIDFIELD

Beckham is not a certainty and he looked short of match fitness in Vienna. Shaun Wright-Phillips is an effective partner for Richards on the right, not least when it comes to covering in defence when the Manchester City youngster gets forward. That said, Wednesday is a night for experience and possibly not the time to be calling on Ashley Young, David Bentley or even Wright-Phillips.

ATTACK

Jermain Defoe is worthy of consideration but if McClaren opts for a fiveman midfield only Peter Crouch gets the nod. Expect a barrage of balls from the flanks in the direction of the big Liverpool striker which he, in turn, will be expected to feed into the path of the onrushing Gerrard and Lampard. Not very inventive, or evidence of great progress under McClaren, but effective enough to get the required result.