England have unfinished business in their World Cup Qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, 9 September 2009. Bet Republic TV (BRTV) host Steve Claridge and guest host Jason Cundy look at the big match up.

To watch Steve Claridge and Jason Cundy’s video preview of this all-important game between England and Croatia go here (to see it on YouTube):

We all remember that fateful night in November 2007, when a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Croatia at Wembley cost England a place at Euro 2008. Well, on Wednesday night England have vowed to make it pay-back time by beating the same team and earning qualification to next year’s World Cup.

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard was the England captain that night, and the memory of that defeat will drive him to succeed when the two countries clash again on Wednesday night.

“There is unfinished business for all of us,” he said on the Liverpool FC fans’ website. “The result and the performance that night really hurt us. It was definitely my lowest moment in an England shirt. It has taken a long time to get over it. I'm still not over it now, to be honest.

“We still remember the feeling we were left with afterwards in the dressing room, and I don't think I will be over it until we get that qualification under our belts this week. We remember the result two years back and will use it to motivate ourselves on Wednesday. But if you can't get motivated to beat a team to get to the World Cup then you've got a problem.”

Although England weren't overly impressive against Slovenia on Saturday Betrepublic’s Steve Claridge fully expects them to come through on Wednesday. In a video preview to the game, which is now streaming on the BetRepublic’s sports betting community website, he discusses the game with fellow host Jason Cundy, and makes a couple of betting recommendations.

Claridge and Cundy reckon England will win and are advising members of the sports betting community to bet on England to win at a best-priced 8/13 with Bet365 and Boylesports.

The boys also think there will be plenty of goals and are advising a bet on over 2.5 goals, which you can currently back at evens with both Sportingbet and Bet365.

“England become much more focused when it matters since the arrival of manager Fabio Capello and I reckon they will win comfortably at Wembley on Wednesday night,” says Claridge.

Claridge believes that for Capello, the main decision will be whether to stick with Emile Heskey as Wayne Rooney's strike partner.

There is a growing band of support for Jermaine Defoe to be given the nod after his excellent run of form for both Spurs and England, but Heskey, despite his less than impressive goals to games ratio (just seven goals in 55 games) is proving a perfect foil for Rooney, just as he was for Michael Owen.