Lampard: Stay positive - we perform better in the bigger games

And the Chelsea midfielder insists England should approach next summer's finals with great confidence if they go through after earning a dramatic reprieve via Russia's shock reversal in Israel.

Steve McClaren's now side now need only a point against Croatia to book their place in Austria and Switzerland and Lampard is confident a red hot Wembley atmosphere will act as a massive advantage.

He said: "Mentally it's been quite tough but we've stayed positive. The manager has stayed positive.

"There was no point in being negative because, if we did get a result go in our favour, we have to be in the right frame of mind to deal with it.

"It's been difficult because it's been out of our hands. Now it is back into our hands there is a fantastic feeling in the squad and we all know the atmosphere on Wednesday now will be frightening - and that's in our favour. That will lift the lads.

"I think we have a history since I've been involved in the squad that there's always been a big game that qualification hinges on and we've managed to do the right thing. Hopefully we'll manage it again on Wednesday.

"I think it's fair to say in general that we've performed better in the bigger games. It's been a frustrating thing at times when you don't perform in the not so big games.

"But when the big games have come along, we have tended to perform, especially the ones to qualify for major championships. With the atmosphere behind us we can do it again."

Lampard added: "If get through now, it will be a tremendous lift after the downside, after criticism thrown at the team and the manager.

"If we do come through it, we have to go to the championships with a real confidence. There have been times where England have qualified very well for championships and then gone and got knocked out early stages.

"Maybe this is a time where we will sneak through and go further when we get to the finals."

Joe Cole believes England deserve to qualify for the finals after their form in the second half of their qualifying campaign which included a sequence of five successive 3-0 wins.

He said: "You make your own luck. You get what you deserve in football and I feel we deserve to be at the tournament next summer.

"We had a shaky start to our qualifying group and got some bad results but, given the form we are in at the moment, I believe we can go through now we've got another chance.

"I said before the Israel-Russia game that I believed we would still make it, that something would happen to put things back in our own hands - and it's happened."

Cole also revealed his support for McClaren who looks certain to retain his post if England obtain a positive result against Croatia.

He said: "I am just right behind the manager. I think he is the best manager in England, the best English manager, and we are all right behind him."