2010 FIFA World Cup Betting Tips, Picks and Odds: World Cup 2006: Wales brace for England backlash

If there was a complacency about World Cup qualification after England's back-to-back victories over Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in March, it evaporated in Copenhagen a fortnight ago.

The run of form that has lifted Poland to the top of the group may have wakened uneasy memories of the way the Poles eliminated England from the 1974 World Cup, but it was the way Denmark cut England apart to win 4-1 in a friendly last month that really set the alarm bells ringing.

Quite aside from the eccentric goalkeeping of David James and the inadequacies of Glenn Johnson at right-back, the real worry was the midfield. There had been concerns before about the ability of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to play together in the centre of midfield, but nobody expected their defensive shortcomings to be exposed quite so brutally.

So concerned is the England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson that, after consultations with senior players, England have been practising with a 4-5-1 formation this week, with Shaun Wright-Phillips coming in on the right side of midfield and David Beckham moving into a more central role.

With Michael Owen suspended, Wayne Rooney would operate in a lone striking role, although Tottenham' s Jermain Defoe could still start if England use a conventional 4-4-2.

England's problems, though, pale by comparison with those of the Welsh. With Craig Bellamy, Gary Speed, Andy Melville, Robbie Savage, Mark Pembridge, Mark Delaney or Ben Thatcher all injured or unavailable, their manager John Toshack has been forced to turn to a number of untested hopes.

John Hartson could be one of only a few with big-time experience - Simon Davies, Ryan Giggs, Danny Gabbidon and Robert Earnshaw fit that category - and much will be expected from them to help and guide Toshack's raw recruits through what could be a daunting afternoon.

England can confirm their qualification for the World Cup finals by taking at least 10 points from their remaining four qualifying games - starting in Cardiff on September 3. The match in Belfast follows four days later.

Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho revealed John Terry is a doubt for the Wales clash. Eriksson is already without central defenders Sol Campbell and Ledley King, while right-back Gary Neville has also been ruled out with a groin injury. Terry sustained a knee injury during Chelsea's 2-0 win at Tottenham.