Sven's carrot for youngsters
England Under-21s have a double incentive to do well in tonight's European Championship match against Portugal here.
A win would guarantee qualification for the semi-finals while a good performance could still earn a call-up to Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.
The England coach today revealed he will turn to the Under-21s for reinforcements if his 23-man squad is hit by more injury problems.
Eriksson was planning to speak to his Under-21 counterpart David Platt and he said: "If we have more than one problem, it will be players from the Under-21s who will fill in.
"That was agreed a long time ago.
"Even if we have problem tomorrow - say a defender or attacker - we can take him tomorrow.
"All the Under-21 players are on standby."
The main concern of Platt and his players, however, is the challenge of beating Portugal.
Zat Knight, the Fulham defender who was offered a contract at Portuguese side Benfica when he was 18 years old, says the team are in positive mood.
Knight, who stands 6ft 6in tall, won only his third cap in the 2-1 defeat by Italy on Monday night but put on a reasonably assured performance and was disappointed to have a goal disallowed for pushing.
He said: "I have had a pretty good season.
"I grabbed my chance in the Premiership with both hands and to get picked for England too is a dream come true. I thought I was just coming over to Switzerland as a squad player so I am pleased to have played and feel I adapted pretty well.
"We will go for it against Portugal because qualification is still in our hands. We've got to go out there with all guns blazing.
"After Monday, we've only had one day to recover, so we've got to be mentally strong. I think we've got the players to make the semifinal and even the Final."
Platt is set to recall West Ham striker Jermain Defoe and Arsenal wide man Jermaine Pennant to his starting line-up and Charlton midfielder Scott Parker is likely to replace the suspended Sean Davis, of Fulham.
