TALLIN calling, Tallin calling. How that chant must be ringing incessantly through the ears of England football national coach Steve McClaren.

Irrespective of what happened last night in the money-grabbing hyped-up duel that pitted England against Brazil to christen the new Wembley with a baptism of Brazilian sun-flare, McClaren's mind will be far more occupied by what goes on in the capital of Estonia.

Even if not on a scouting mission, his mind will be - certainly it should be - there tonight for the group E' exchange between Estonia and Croatia - the latter one of England's most dangerous group protagonists - before being concentrated to the McClaren max next Wednesday when England journey to the Baltic state.

Over the last five years Tallin has escalated in reputation as one of the most fun-loving capitals of Europe. It's undergoing a property boom in tandem with a tourist surge that has brought as many stag and hen nights to the capital's charming streets cascading down to the port from the Disneyland edifices of Tallin's Toompea Hill as the ferry-floods of Finnish day-trippers crossing the Bay of Finland to bag some cheap-price booze.

But should England, yet again graced by the world's most tie-dyed tattooed footballer in David Beckham, fail to cut the mustard against Estonia then former York resident McClaren and Co will be in for even more humiliation than that accorded their hosts after their infamous international some years ago against Scotland.

Remember how Scotland turned up to kick off against an empty half of the field, whereby the referee then blew the whistle to signal a 3-0 win for the Scots. Some critics of England's present regime will chunter that might be the only scenario to guarantee the victory McClaren (pictured) desperately needs if he is to hang on to a job that has quickly assumed all the menace of a chalice laced with the most toxic poison.

A less than positive result from Tallin on Wednesday and the crippling effect that would have on chances of qualification for next summer's European Championships may well end the reign of the son of York at the helm of English football before this column reappears in a week's time.

Yet surely our white-shirted millionaires cannot let their manager down again.

In the week when the Deloitte sports business group released their annual review of football finance that forecasts that the average (yes, you read that correctly - average) Premier League footballer's annual earnings will top £1million next season, the onus is on to deliver, at last.

Of course, England's squad is populated by the so-called elite, whose earnings far outstrip those of their more average contemporaries. So come on England - earn your bloody corn.

tony.kelly@ycp.co.uk