LONDON - Steve McClaren has warned England they must not fail to grasp their Euro 2008 lifeline.
Israel's shock win over Russia, plus Macedonia's equally unexpected triumph over Croatia means England could actually top Group E when they conclude their qualification campaign at Wembley on Wednesday.
Yet, after waking to headlines suggesting his time as coach would come to an end if the Three Lions do reach next summer's finals, how England reach Austria and Switzerland is of secondary importance to actually getting there.
"There is absolutely no way we can give this chance away," he said.
"This is it. This is the last game. There are no excuses.
"We have got ourselves into this position. We are in control. There are no excuses now. We have to get the job done."
McClaren was with his family in the plush surroundings of England's team hotel in Watford as Israel recorded their amazing triumph.
From a position of comfort at 1-0 to the hosts, McClaren's nerves started to shred once Russia equalised and by the end he was left pacing the bathroom desperately waiting for the final whistle, made aware of the last-gasp drama only through the squeals of his two sons in an adjoining room as Dmitri Sychev struck a post before Dorel Golan stole up to the other end to ensure England only need a draw to go through.
"I was watching it on and off," he said.
"I felt comfortable at 1-0. At 1-1, I dreaded the worst. It was unbelievably tense and in the end, I could not bear it.
"I slipped into the bathroom and did not watch the last 10 minutes at all. It was excruciating.
"I heard the boys cheer twice. The first was for the shot that hit the post, the second was when Israel scored. That is the fine line between success and failure."
The outcome in Tel Aviv vindicated McClaren's often-stated belief the Croatia game would eventually prove to be pivotal.
However, having seen Israel and Macedonia perform so heroically, McClaren is wary of Croatia doing the same.
And, if any England fan needed reminding of the anxiety that awaits on Wednesday, they need only be pointed in the direction of the 2002 World Cup qualifier with Greece, when Sven-Goran Eriksson's team were in exactly the same situation McClaren's are now but eventually needed an injury-time free-kick from David Beckham to get them a draw.
"This game is not a formality," said McClaren.
"I was on the bench for the Greece game. They had nothing to lose and nothing to play for - and looked what happened.
"Croatia are in the same position. They are a good side and they are capable of winning this game, so we have to make sure complacency does not creep in."
With Michael Owen joining Wayne Rooney on the injured list, McClaren has called Tottenham's Darren Bent into his squad.
As a 4-5-1 formation has been mooted, with Peter Crouch occupying the lone striker's berth, Bent's presence will almost certainly be restricted to the bench, to be called on only in an emergency.
The return of Owen Hargreaves is far more telling.
Hargreaves remained in Manchester all last week for treatment on a knee injury which has plagued him ever since his £18million summer move from Bayern Munich.
However, with so much at stake, Hargreaves reported for duty as planned today, much to McClaren's delight.
"Owen has great experience," he said.
"Manchester United felt he could not play two games in four or five days but we have got him for the one that matters."
Understandably, McClaren refused to enter into any debate over his own future, although he must know that if England fall flat on their faces now, there is no chance of him keeping his job.
Instead, he will try to instil in his players a positive attitude, that sees them attempt to record a victory they do not actually require.
"I feel we deserve to qualify," he said.
"But it is not about what I think, it is what we do that counts.
"If we keep a clean sheet, we will go through but we have to be positive and we have to try and win.
"That is what has got us results during the second half of the campaign and we must continue that way.
"It is not in England's nature to play for a draw."
