Suker backs England to go through

Day 0, 00:00 • Published in Romania Romania • by ParpandeL

Former Croatia striker Davor Suker is convinced England will gain the point they need to qualify for Euro 2008.|||Steve McClaren's men must avoid defeat against already-qualified Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday to book their place at next summer's finals.

Suker, Croatia's all-time record goalscorer, insists his compatriots will play to win but that England will join them in Austria and Switzerland.

"Croatia and England will make it to the championship," he told BBC Sport.

"It's not easy to beat England at Wembley. They've been a little bit up and down this year but that's normal when you have a lot of changes in the dressing room and on the pitch.
"I think England will qualify and be very strong at the finals in Austria and Switzerland."

Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva is set to lead Croatia's attack and Suker pinpoints the 24-year-old as the key weapon in their armoury.

Eduardo netted Croatia's second against England at the Maximir Stadion in October 2006 and is the second top scorer in qualifying with 10 goals, three behind David Healy.

Croatia will look to counter-attack whenever possible and bombard England from set-pieces, according to Suker.

He also believes the game will be won and lost in "the midfield war", with Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar providing the attacking impetus.