England are ready insists Beckham

Beckham says England's players are totally focused to face Turkey Story Tools

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and captain David Beckham have insisted that the team is more than ever determined to win their Euro 2004 Group Seven decider in Turkey after a week of controversy.

Eriksson told a news conference that a threatened player strike following the decision to drop defender Rio Ferdinand over a missed drugs test would be forgotten during the match.

"The team are very much together," he said. "What has happened has happened but I think the team has come out as strong as it was -- maybe even stronger.

England need at least a draw against second-placed Turkey to reach next year's finals in Portugal and their fans have been barred from attending the game by the English Football Association because of fears of crowd trouble, which could lead to the team's expulsion.

"If you meet an opponent not concentrated you are very happy -- that's sport -- but I can promise you that we will be very focused and concentrated on the pitch tomorrow," said Eriksson.

Beckham said that all the players were now concentrating fully on the match.

"The crisis has gone now. We are now totally focused on tomorrow's game. We aim to win it and qualify for the European Championship," he declared.

"In a strange way this has brought us closer together, but we do realise we have something to prove. Every player is proud to wear the shirt and will play their hearts out.

"There is a lot more pressure on us now as a team and as players but we are strong characters and we have to get through this."

Eriksson added: "We have to be well organised defensively and attack well but I've said that the head is very important. If you keep your head for 90 minutes then you have a very good chance."

Manchester United's Ferdinand, the world's most expensive defender, failed to attend a doping test last month and faces an FA hearing on Monday.

England won their group match against Turkey in Sunderland 2-0 in April but the victory was marred by a pitch invasion which led to a UEFA fine.

Prospects dented

England's prospects in Istanbul have been dented by the withdrawal of injured striker Michael Owen from their biggest game since the 2002 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Brazil.

Since their previous top striker Alan Shearer retired after Euro 2000, England have not won a game in which Owen has failed to start.

He will probably be replaced by Liverpool team mate Emile Heskey alongside 17-year-old Wayne Rooney, who caused Turkey major problems in Sunderland, although Eriksson may opt to play a lone attacker.

Turkey trail 31-0 on aggregate after eight defeats and a draw in their nine previous encounters with England but they are the most improved side in European football and were World Cup semi-finalists last year.

In contrast to England, Senol Gunes's Turkey have enjoyed a relatively serene buildup.

Experienced striker Hakan Sukur should start alongside Nihat Kahveci after recovering from a minor knee problem, with Besiktas striker Ilhan Mansiz on the bench.

Ilhan's club mate in midfield, Sergen Yalcin, is a doubt after injuring a leg in training.

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