Chelsea could benefit from Istanbul feelgood factor
And although coach Claudio Ranieri is groaning about the lack of time he has had to prepare his star-studded squad of international millionaires, he is hopeful the spirit of England's Euro 2004 triumph in Turkey will carry through.
John Terry, Frank Lampard, Wayne Bridge and even Joe Cole, who has yet to start a Premiership game for Chelsea, could all have parts to play, with Ranieri banking on a continuance of the feelgood factor from Istanbul.
Ranieri and his mega-money squad know it won't be easy against Steve Bruce's belligerent Birmingham City side who are keyed up to show they have matured enough to compete with the country's finest.
Ranieri said: "Birmingham are a good side in good condition but then so are Chelsea. We have William Gallas back fit and we are ready.
"We have had only one full day's training together plus a warm-down on Sunday after the international matches but that is always the problem on weekends like that.
"But while Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen (whose Iceland team also went out of Euro 2004) are hurting a lot, the England boys like John, Joe, Wayne and Frank feel very strong."
Chelsea, currently third in the table, are taking no chances are taking no chances with their game in hand over the Premiership pace-makers.
They won't allow dangerous Finland striker Mikael Forssell, who is on loan to Birmingham, to turn out for the Midlands side tomorrow. It is part of a similar agreement which prevented Dutch winger Bolo Zenden playing for Middlesbrough against Chelsea last Sunday.
Chelsea maintained their unbeaten Premiership record with a somewhat flattering 2-1 victory on Teeside and their severest critics suggest they have been lucky to grind out several other useful results so far this season.
But Chelsea have already captured the art of winning while not at their best which must be a grave warning to everyone else.
Ranieri is constantly under pressure to produce results with the shadow of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson hovering over him.
Tales suggesting it is only a matter of time before the Swede takes over from the Italian at Stamford Bridge just won't go away.
But England's success in clinching Euro 2004 qualification with a spirited goalless draw in Turkey on Saturday could have given Ranieri some breathing space after Eriksson confirmed he's ready to go to the finals as England's manager.
Ranieri has to decide on sending John Terry into action again just three days after his heroics but with skipper Marcel Desailly still missing through a back problem, has only young German central defender Robert Huth as back-up in the squad.
Juan Sebastian Veron, the £15m former Manchester United ace who has done extra training after accepting Ranieri's verdict that he has not been fit enough this season, is expected to return in midfield.
Adrian Mutu, who scored his seventh goal in six internationals for Romania against Japan on Saturday, looks favourite to partner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Chelsea's six-goal top scorer, in attack with Argentinian Hernan Crespo a major option on the bench.
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