The SIMON GARNER column. . .

IT just wouldn't be England, would it, if there wasn't a injury crisis to worry about going into a major football tournament.

Two years ago in Japan, David Beckham's metatarsal injury became a national obsession.

Now John Terry's hamstring problems are making similar headlines in the national Press and the repercussions could seriously jeopardise our chances of beating France on Sunday night.

Terry was outstanding for Chelsea last season and his name would surely have been one of the first on the team-sheet had he been fit for 'Le Crunch' this weekend.

Instead, Sven Goran Eriksson is facing a straight choice between Jamie Carragher and Ledley King as he gears up for the nation's biggest game in two years.

In my opinion, Carragher must get the nod ahead of King in the race to partner Sol Campbell.

King is simply not experienced enough at the highest level to be thrown into a game of such magnitude, even though he's the more specialised central defender of the two.

Carragher is more of a big game player and he represents the best available option in what are testing circumstances.

Some have suggested using Gary Neville in the centre with Carragher filling in at right back but I honestly don't think the Manchester United defender is good enough to play there at international level.

His lack of genuine pace and height would count against him so I'd be tempted to leave him where he is, particularly as he links up well with ex-team-mate Beckham down the right.

For all our paranoia about how to deal with Thierry Henry, I actually think the key battle will take place in midfield.

Henry is a class act, as everyone knows, but his team-mates have still got to get the ball up to him, which is why I look on Zinedine Zidane as the king-pin in the French team.

If England give him time and space on the ball then the Real Madrid ace is the kind of player who'll put them to the sword.

The fact the French have two holding players like Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele gives Zidane the licence to roam wherever he wants, which makes the job of picking him up practically impossible for the opposition.

In saying that, I still think England have a great chance of getting a result on Sunday if they really put their minds to it.

If we can get after the French then they do have weaknesses we can exploit at the back.

Marcel Desailly was a fine player in his time but his best days are now behind him and the same can be said for Bixente Lizarazu.

On top of that, Fabien Barthez is also prone to the occasional howler so they're far from unbeatable.

What a great time it would be for Paul Scholes to finally end his England goal-drought following three barren years.

The Manchester United star has come in for criticism due to his recent lack of goals but I think he's a vastly underrated player.

While everyone's been talking up the talents of Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Scholes' star appears to have been on the wane in the eyes of the public.

But he could just be the man to light up the Estadio da Luz on Sunday and anyone who underestimates him does so at their peril.

My top Euro 2004 tips

WINNERS: France - they're the classiest side in the competition

RUNNERS-UP: England - if we get through a difficult group then we could go all the way

FALL-GUYS: Germany - you can never truly write them off but this is their weakest side ever

TOP SCORER: Thierry Henry - currently the best striker in the world

STAR MAN: Wayne Rooney - I'd love to see him take the tournament by storm

BIGGEST FLOP: Christian Vieri - overrated Italian who had a shocker at the last World Cup

DARK HORSES: Czech Republic - they may just surprise a few.