Leaving Rio out isn't helpful but I hope that, now Sven has his players together in Turkey, he's allowed to focus on tomorrow's match and ensure their concentration levels are high, because they'll need to be at their best to get the draw that will ensure automatic qualification.
I remember taking England to Rome in October 1997. We needed to draw with Italy to finish top of our World Cup qualifying group. The Italians needed to win. The scenario, in other words, was similar to that now facing Sven.
The big difference was that I had a trouble-free build-up and that helped us secure a goalless draw. Apart from Alan Shearer, who'd been injured for a while, I had a fully fit squad and I worked with them for four days before the game. That period of good quality preparation made a difference.
I told the players that we'd try for the win but I put Paul Ince and David Batty together in midfield and, with Paul Gascoigne free to do his stuff, that gave us a nice balance.
Ince and Batty made it very difficult for Italy to get at our back five and I think that kind of strategy is something Sven will be thinking about.
If he needed to win in Istanbul I think it would probably be simpler for him from a tactical viewpoint because he would devise a strategy designed to get all three points.
As it is, one point is enough so I think that, tactically, this is a big challenge for him.
He won't want to defend, but nor will he want to over commit to attack.
I think it is in midfield where we have to show them most respect. Tugay, Emre and Okan are outstanding and if Tugay plays the free role, his passing is good enough to dictate the pattern of the game. He's the man who makes them tick. England have to stop him getting too much of the ball.
The key issue for me is how the Turks choose to play. If they retain their usual three men in midfield they will cause us problems. This was the tactic that propelled them to the semi-finals of the World Cup last year.
If, on the other hand, they decide to match us man for man and play 4-4-2, I think that will be to England's advantage. Our players know the system and how to beat it.
Turkey, of course, will be delighted that Michael Owen has joined Rio on the sidelines. The loss of Owen is a major blow to Sven.
But what has been encouraging is the recent England form of Wayne Rooney, who seems certain to play alongside Emile Heskey.
He's a massive talent and you wonder what he's going to be like around 28, when he hits his peak. He's probably feeling a little frustrated with his Everton form at the moment, but he's now switching to a different environment.
He's scored in his last two England games so he's bound to be full of confidence. But he's still young and you have to think about his temperament in that environment. It's going to be hostile and, although we need to be disciplined, it doesn't hurt sometimes to fight fire with fire.
I remember playing a friendly match for Tottenham against Fenerbahce just after the 1981 FA Cup Final. I remember their fans rocking our motor coach from side to side and them pelting us with rubbish when we came out of the tunnel for the kick-off.
We beat them 5-1 and at the end they applauded us off, but the riot police had to raise their shields to protect the Fenerbahce players from missiles as they left the pitch.
Discipline and attitude are important, but it's also essential that Sven gets his tactics right. If he does that, England will get the draw they need - and after the week he's had, that's the least he deserves.
