Let's say goodbye with a victory, says Keegan

And he expressed confidence that he would not be the last manager to suffer defeat under the Twin Towers as he maintained that the team had ''turned the corner'' against France last month after their Euro 2000 demise.

Keegan's plans for the opening 2002 World Cup qualifier have been disrupted by the enforced withdrawal of Steve Gerrard from the starting line-up due to a thigh problem which surfaced in training on Thursday.

The Liverpool midfielder, who has now missed out on starting in all but one of England's past eight games due to injury, will be replaced in central midfield by either Dennis Wise or Middlesbrough's Paul Ince.

However, his youthful exuberance and passing ability will surely be missed by a team which is set to take a step backwards from the split-striker system used against the French by reverting to a predictable 4-4-2 formation.

At least David Beckham, who missed training earlier this week with a knee injury, was said to be ''fine'', while the pace of Michael Owen and Andy Cole offers hope up front if they can be guaranteed service.

But the England coach knows his side will have to make a huge improvement on what was an admittedly narrow win against an even worse German side at the Euro 2000 finals.

And with the Germans having made improvements since the summer under new temporary coach Rudi Voeller, Keegan knows the pressure is on him ahead of the final game at the current Wembley.

''We have to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure that the last game at Wembley is memorable and memorable for all the right reasons with a victory hopefully,'' he declared.

''I haven't really thought about defeat, although a draw would not be a disaster.

''We are looking at it in a positive way, as you would expect especially from someone like myself, and the supporters are going to play a massive part.

''The 70,000-odd of them who will be in the stadium are the privileged ones, as we are, although it is important that they are patient at times and that we don't get carried away on the euphoria.

''We have got a game to win here and we've got to get that balance just right. I feel we've got a lovely mixture of experience there though and I don't think it will catch any of them out.''

Keegan added: "I could be known as that man - the last manager to lose at Wembley because I'm in that potential position. But I don't want to be known as that man.''

Despite the 1-0 win against Germany, England still emerged from Euro 2000 with their reputation tarnished and expectations shot to pieces amid an inability to pass the ball effectively and a constantly overrun midfield.

However, Keegan sees the main cause for renewed hope as the improved display of the side against France last month, albeit when he used a different formation.

He described that 1-1 draw as a ''big confidence booster'', with the players displaying a different mindset and attitude, and declared his hope that the result could serve as a ''springboard'' for the future.

Keegan added: ''I think the expectations are probably more realistic now and I accept that. But it's up to us.

''We showed enough in France for people to be able to say that Euro 2000 was one thing, but if we can build on that, then maybe we can achieve something very big especially with the youngsters coming through. I took on board all the criticism I got in the summer and I think it was justified. I have always been a realist, I have never been scared of criticism.

''But I'm still here at least to try and answer my critics back, which is more than can be said for some of the managers.

''We'll know pretty soon whether we're back on the right track or suffering a hangover from Euro 2000 but I think we have turned the corner.

''Against France, I felt personally that was a big turning point, to go there and play like we did, when everyone was knocking us, and rightly so, for our performance in Euro 2000. That showed a lot of character and spirit. Given the opportunity, we seized it with both hands, which was nice.''

Ahead of the final game at Wembley, Olympic gold medal winners Steve Redgrave, Denise Lewis and Audley Harrison will be introduced to the crowd.

And their presence is symbolic of a renewed sense of optimism currently existing within British sport following the successes in Sydney.

How long that positive attitude lasts may rest in the hands of the various national sides competing this weekend.

But Keegan feels there is an important lesson for his players to learn from Britain's successful Olympic team. He said: ''It's great that Steve Redgrave, Denise Lewis and Audley Harrison are coming along.