Group 7: Eriksson stuck in middle

Midfield matters are dominating before England's meeting with F.Y.R. Macedonia on Wednesday.

Reshuffle needed
Sven-Göran Eriksson's team fought back to start their Group 7 campaign with a 2-1 victory in Slovakia on Saturday but a midfield reshuffle was needed to do the trick. Steven Gerrard along with Manchester United FC trio David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes struggled in Bratislava and things only improved after Scholes was moved into a central role from the left and Gerrard pushed out left from the middle.

'We will see'
"I've seen Paul Scholes play well on the left for Manchester United before but it was important to move him centrally in the second half and we kept the ball much better then," said Eriksson. "I think that Nicky Butt and Steven Gerrard can play together but we were not successful in the first half and they did a bit of the same work as each other. We will see what we do on Wednesday.''

Change possible
A change of personnel down the left is expected, although it will not be Kieron Dyer who has a back injury. Emile Heskey, who has played there to some effect in the past, seems better suited to a forward role. A more likely option may be to bring in Southampton FC left-back Wayne Bridge, and push Ashley Cole into midfield.

Bridge the gap
Bridge would certainly feel at home at Southampton's St Mary's stadium, the latest destination on England's tour around the country while Wembley is refurbished. Alternatively, Alan Smith could be brought in to form a front three with Owen and Heskey. Eriksson, who will have Sol Campbell fit in defence, may well feel the time is right to experiment, especially with Turkey home and away on the horizon.

Turbulent time
The Swede will have been relieved to win on Saturday, not least in the wake of a week where his love life has been widely discussed in the English newspapers. His opposite number on Wednesday, Nikola Ilievski, has also had a turbulent time of late. Ilievski has threatened to resign regardless of the result, citing "a lack of organisation".

Threat to resign
"Nobody is interested in the team," he said, after claiming that he had not been paid for several months. "If things are not changed. I will resign." The Macedonians lost 2-1 to Turkey on Saturday and injuries have hindered their planning.

Injury problems
Striker Georgi Hristov is struggling to be fit, meaning a possible start as the lone forward for the 19-year-old Goran Pandev of Spezia Calcio. FC Spartak Moskva full-back Igor Mitreski is also injured and goalkeeper Petar Milosevski a doubt after breaking his nose against Turkey. Against England's midfield, Alex Mitreski's efforts in a holding role in front of the defence could be key.

Focus needed
Turkey host Liechtenstein in the group's other game and their coach, Senol Günes, has warned his players - fortunate winners in F.Y.R. Macedonia - to focus on the immediate task, instead of looking ahead to the probably decisive meetings with England in April and October next year.

'No easy teams'
"I want my players to concentrate only on the match ahead," he said. "These talks affect all of us." It is an important match for Günes, who will equal Fatih Terim's record of 17 wins if Turkey are victorious in the first meeting of the two sides. "Nowadays, everyone knows there is a very little difference between teams of the world. There are no easy teams." England's midfield will be only too aware of that after their Slovakian sojourn.