Gerrard: We must be ready to pounce

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The stand-in skipper is hoping either Russia or Croatia will give England a second chance to qualify by faltering against Israel and Macedonia respectively.

Following Friday night's 1-0 friendly win over Austria, Gerrard said: "This was a good win but we need to improve on that for Wednesday. We have got to be mentally ready to take advantage of any slip-ups on Wednesday."

He added: "It will be like a second chance for us if you like - and if we do get a chance on Wednesday, we've got to play the game of our lives."

Gerrard is hoping someone else can step forward and fill the gap left by the injured Michael Owen and he believes Peter Crouch will have gained a confidence boost from his headed winner from a David Beckham corner.

He said: "The most important thing was to get the win although we took our foot off the pedal slightly in the second half.

"It is always a minus when you lose a player like Michael Owen, one of the best goalscorers in the world. He is our top goalscorer.

"But it is an opportunity for someone else on Wednesday night and that goal will have done Peter's confidence no harm.

"Strikers thrive on goals and he stuck his goal away really well. I think he is slightly disappointed he didn't get a second in the second half. He did well."