LONDON (AP) -England's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Championship are slimmer than ever after Michael Owen's latest injury.
England was already dependent on the results of other teams even if it beats Croatia in its final qualifier on Wednesday. But its chances of even getting that victory took a huge hit when Owen strained his thigh in Friday's 1-0 friendly win at Austria.
"It means we will be going into what could be our biggest game for some time without our first-choice strikers and our two regular center backs," coach Steve McClaren said after Owen joined Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand on the sidelines.
England was the favorite to qualify from Group E when the draw was made last year, but Croatia tops the standings and Russia will qualify if it wins its final two matches.
If Russia or Croatia slip up, England can take advantage with a win at Wembley, but that now looks difficult.
The experienced Sol Campbell and newcomer Joleon Lescott should fill in for captain Terry and Ferdinand, so it is up front where England could struggle most.
Owen is out for a month and Rooney injured an ankle in training last week, while likely replacement Emile Heskey is also out of action with a broken foot bone.
That leaves McClaren - who is likely to be fired if England's record of appearing at six straight major tournaments is broken - to choose an attack from Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Alan Smith.
Crouch is a sure starter after hitting his 13th goal in 23 internationals against Austria, but neither he nor Defoe have been regular picks for their teams in the Premier League this season, while Smith has spent much of the past two years in midfield for Manchester United and now Newcastle.
Defoe has just three goals in 25 internationals, while Smith has one in 19. Neither has taken to international soccer as well as Owen, who seemingly revived England's chances of advancing when he returned from injury to score three goals in September's 3-0 wins over Israel and Russia.
Most of Crouch's goals have come against lesser teams, such as 88th-ranked Austria, so England may struggle against a defense that conceded just four goals in 10 matches ahead of its final two qualifiers.
And McClaren knows Croatia kept a clean sheet against Rooney and Crouch in a 2-0 win over England in October 2006.
Midfielder Frank Lampard has returned to scoring form for Chelsea after two months without a goal, so McClaren could be tempted to start him alongside Steven Gerrard against Austria.
That would mean, however, that McClaren would have to leave out Gareth Barry even though he excelled in recent wins over Israel, Russia and Estonia, and play without a holding midfielder.
