The Liverpool captain admits "there are parallels" with the Euro 2004 qualifier away to Turkey four years ago when England got the draw they needed in a hostile atmosphere to reach the finals in Portugal.

A win on the plastic pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium tomorrow would seal qualification for Euro 2008 while a draw would also keep England in a strong position going into their final match of the qualifying campaign against Croatia next month, and Gerrard is targeting a big performance.

Gerrard said: "I don't know if you can say this is the type of game that can define your career, but it is certainly one of those games that if we get the result that we want we can look back on in years to come with a bit of pride.

"I look back on the (5-1) win over Germany (in 2001), the draw in Turkey, games like that and they are big nights, for big players and leaders to step forward and that is what we are going to need again.

"There are parallels with this game and Istanbul. We gave everything we had and came through that night and the feeling now is similar."