Gerrard grateful for Euro lifeline

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Steve McClaren's side find their destiny back in their own hands after Israel's shock 2-1 win over Russia in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, now a draw will be sufficient against Croatia on Wednesday to ensure England book their place in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

Stand-in England skipper Gerrard said: "We have been given another chance to qualify and that has to motivate every player on Wednesday evening."

He added: "Every player's performance against Croatia has got to show that we have been lucky to be given another opportunity. Everyone must give everything to try and be there next summer.

"If we don't get there it will be so frustrating and we have to make sure we have the right mentality on Wednesday."

Meanwhile, Michael Owen has described how the "pain and despair" of his latest injury evaporated in the joy of seeing England's Euro 2008 hopes resurrected.

Owen will miss the qualifier against Croatia after tearing a thigh muscle in Friday's friendly win in Austria, but his disappointment was tempered by the result in Tel Aviv.

"My heart sank in the freezing air of Vienna on Friday but it soared as I sat at home in front of the television on Saturday night," Owen wrote in the News of the World.

"Suddenly the pain and despair of picking up another injury in the friendly against Austria began to disappear as the outcome of the games in Israel and Macedonia began to unfold.

"It was more of a slow torture watching the Israel-Russia game but thankfully it all came out right for us in the end."