Steve McClaren wore the look of a man dragged from the condemned cell and told he had won the freedom of Europe - which in football terms he almost has.

McClaren, despite understandable public support from sections of the Football Association, was out of a job if Israel had lost to Russia.

No more. No less.

Now, thanks to a wonderfully committed performance from an Israel team showing true national and professional pride, a point will do against Croatia at Wembley.

But McClaren wisely kept the lid on triumphalism at his final pre-match briefing, delivering the time-honoured warnings about jobs to be done.

He also knows any criticism he has received so far will be the equivalent of being showered in bouquets compared to the abuse he will get should England lose to Croatia.

Big choices remain. Who should England play? And how should England play?

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McClaren was keeping tight-lipped about his selection of goalkeeper to face Croatia - an ominous silence perhaps for Paul Robinson, who has previously received a public show of faith.

I would have been tempted to restore Robinson, but leaks from within the camp claimed a nightmare show in training on Monday may have sealed his fate.

This lets in Scott Carson, although Robinson can harbour a sense of betrayal if one of his own colleagues leaked details of his alleged poor performance in training.

Elsewhere, McClaren hinted that experience would hold the key to his selection.

The back four is expected to be Micah Richards, Sol Campbell, Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge, who may just edge out Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole because of doubts over the latter's fitness.

McClaren faces another tough selection in midfield, but I would go for a five-man system and recall the more experienced Owen Hargreaves as the anchor man.

This will allow Frank Lampard freedom to show his attacking intent, while Steven Gerrard can maraud in support of lone striker Peter Crouch, as he has done with Liverpool.

Joe Cole will take the left-flank while, despite a whole host of reservations, I would give David Beckham his 99th - and final - cap on the right.

Beckham was off the pace in Austria, but still showed the sort of deadball accuracy England will need against Croatia.

This may seem harsh on the excellent Gareth Barry and the inconsistent Shaun Wright-Phillips, but it has come down to one game and McClaren cannot be blamed for picking the men who have been around the block.

England's approach must be positive. To invite pressure from a gifted Croatia side is to invite trouble, tension and a potential exit from Euro 2008.

The five-man midfield is a mix of attacking options and defensive insurance, although a lack of pace up front may prove a problem.

The rest is down to the players.

And if they do not have it within them to grasp the lifeline that has suddenly appeared in front of them, there will rightly be no place for them in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

So this is my team - what is yours and how should England approach the game?

England Carson, Richards, Campbell, Lescott, Bridge, Beckham, Hargreaves, Lampard, Gerrard (captain), Cole, Crouch.