McClaren has already rolled the dice and lost several times during a Euro 2008 qualifying campaign marred by bizarre formations and a rocky relationship with England's fans and the media.

But nothing compares with the risk involved in his decision to bring David Beckham back from international exile.

A defeat to Brazil in Friday's glamour friendly at Wembley would be forgiveable given the quality of the opposition. It is the manner of the team's performance in their Euro 2008 tie against Estonia next Wednesday that will determine whether McClaren makes it to the close season without further criticism.

If Beckham and company fail to deliver a convincing win against the Group E whipping boys in Tallinn, the knives will be out for McClaren.

That isn't the only problem for the coach. From August Beckham will be playing in America and a lack of serious opposition will inevitably dilute the competitive instincts needed at the highest level.

Beckham runs the risk of being exposed by Croatia and Russia in next season's crucial qualifiers and if he is McClaren's gamble will have failed. And, with assistant coach Terry Venables and several senior players reportedly unhappy at Beckham's recall, it is reasonable to question what affect it will have on the team's morale.

While McClaren ponders those potential problems he will be relieved the spotlight is temporarily off him as England and Beckham make an emotional return to the game's spiritual home.

England will be making their first appearance at Wembley since October 2000 when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the last match at the old stadium before it was demolished to make way for the impressive 800 million pounds arena that finally opened earlier this year.

The rebuilt Wembley is a fitting venue for the first meeting between these countries since the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal in Shizuoka, an encounter that won't hold too many fond memories for Beckham.

Brazil were trailing 1-0 when Beckham jumped out of a tackle and the South Americans broke away to equalise before winning the tie with a freak goal from Ronaldinho. Beckham won't be the only player with a burning desire to make up for lost time when the teams walk out beneath the Wembley arch. Michael Owen is set to start his first senior England match since suffering a knee injury at last year's World Cup that wiped out most of the striker's season.

London has become familiar territory for Brazil, who are back in the capital city for the fourth time in 10 months as they continue their policy of playing lucrative friendlies around Europe rather than in front of their own fans.

Brazil coach Dunga has been rebuilding since the Selecao's disappointing World Cup campaign. Relatively unfamiliar names like Vagner Love, Elano, Gilberto and Helton are likely to feature at Wembley as Dunga fine-tunes preparations for Brazil's defence of their Copa America crown in Venezuela next month.

Star quality is never in short supply when Brazil are in town though and Kaka, fresh from winning the Champions League with AC Milan, should figure, along with Barcelona's Ronaldinho.

Neither of Brazil's playmakers will have faced Nicky Shorey before and the Reading left-back, who is in line to make his England debut just six years after playing in League Two with Leyton Orient, is still pinching himself at his remarkable rise.

"It is unbelievable to think I started at Orient," Shorey said. "I look back and think 'how did I get here?'

"I was in Marbella with Reading when I found out. I just woke up and saw there was a message on my phone.

"It was a bit of a shock when I listened and it was Steve McClaren. I could not believe it, so I kept on playing it back."