Given time, however, Suker feels Capello can get the best out of an England side that has woefully under-achieved under successive managers.

Suker said: “I think the England squad contains the best midfield players in the world and I can’t understand why their results have not been better.

“Now we will see what Capello can change in the English national team. Given time, he will succeed, there’s no doubt about that.” 

Capello could hardly have wished for a tougher assignment for his second competitive match. 

Suker’s countrymen have never lost a competitive match in Zagreb and England have painful memories of their last trip to the Maksimir Stadium, when a Paul Robinson horror show handed the hosts a 2-0 victory.

That defeat did irreparable harm to Steve McClaren’s men’s ultimately doomed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

And Suker says that Croatia’s unbeaten home record will not be surrendered lightly. 

“We are very strong at home, we’re a proud nation and Croatia will always fight for everything,” he said. “When you play for Croatia, it doesn’t matter what you do with your club side, how much you earn a week, or how many games you have played. You have to have that will to win.

“If England come to Zagreb and don’t respect Croatia 100 per cent then they will come unstuck again.”

Suker was at a rain-soaked Wembley to witness the end of McClaren’s reign as England manager.

And he feels Slaven Bilic’s side’s display in their 3-2 victory over England last November confirmed their presence as one of Europe’s 

leading sides. 

“Everyone was surprised by what happened then,” he said. 

“But that is the strength of the Croatian side, that’s why we’re ranked fifth in the world.”

An injured Owen was a notable absentee from England’s side that night and Suker says Capello’s decision to leave the injury-plagued Newcastle striker out of his current squad is justified. 

“Capello always picks his best team,” he said. “If Owen is not in then he is not there for a reason.” 

Regardless of the result on Wednesday, Suker believes it will be England and Croatia scrapping it out at the top of the group come the business end of qualifying. 

He said: “This is a tough group, but when it comes down to it, Bilic and Capello will fight for first and second place.” 

Which team lands the first punch will have a significant bearing on whether it’s Croatia or England heading directly to South Africa.