As the other players who had been on standby, including Michael Dawson parted company from the World Cup bound squad, Jermain Defoe's slight possibility of appearing in the tournament remained, for a couple of days at least.
Wayne Rooney has missed the build up, watching the friendlies from the sidelines while Sven Goran Eriksson experimented with Steven Gerrard, before returning Peter Crouch to the role of partnering Michael Owen, who is still battling to regain match fitness after missing the second half of the season with the dreaded metatarsal injury which also cursed Rooney.
In recent days the Manchester United striker kicked a ball for the first time since the end of April – he will have a scan to determine whether or not he is expected to fully recover to play some part in England's campaign. Other than Defoe who would only stay with the squad if Rooney were to stay at home after his scan at Manchester United on Wednesday, England only currently have Theo Walcott as a reserve striker, a youngster untried by Arsenal, yet somehow favoured by the Swede over the Tottenham striker.
‘The lack of forward options means that Eriksson will need Owen near his best,' wrote Matt Dickinson in The Times.
A fully fit Defoe might be of more use than a half-fit Owen, a half-fit Rooney and in Walcott a player lacking vital experience.
Meanwhile Sven was determined to back Owen after Peter Crouch had taken his tally to five goals in England's last three games, including a hat-trick of goals on Saturday, and another on Tuesday, all of which came from his boot rather than his head.
Eriksson said: "Michael wanted to show himself, myself and the coaches he is ready for the World Cup. His performance was much, much better than on Tuesday against Hungary. He was making the right movements, a lot of runs out to the space behind the full-backs. Michael fought for the ball, even if he didn't win many in the air, but this time he showed fighting spirit, which was so and so last Tuesday. It was a quite different Michael Owen." (The Sun)