Sit in and hope for the best, or be brave and go for the jugular?
These are the options facing Scotland manager Steve Clarke as he prepares for the biggest game in his managerial career so far.
Let’s be honest. Despite creating a host of chances against the Czech Republic in our Euro 2020 opener, the dispiriting loss has left us needing a minor miracle to progress to the knockout stages for the first time in our history.
On another day Andy Robertson would have put us 1-0 up with that glorious chance in the first half.
On another day Jack Hendry’s looping shot would have dipped just under the bar, instead of crashing off the top of it.
On another day Hendry’s now infamous long-range effort would have deflected harmlessly out for a throw-in or a corner, instead of straight onto the boot of Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick’s left foot.
As is so often the case for Tartan Army followers, we’re left with a distinct feeling of ‘what if’.
What we do now know is that barring a truly thumping win in one of our two remaining games to significantly boost our goal difference, we likely need to win one and draw one to make it through to the promised land of the last 16.
That Herculean challenge starts in possibly the most difficult of venues tonight.
That’s not to say the task at Wembley is impossible. It certainly is not.
But what is certain is that Clarke has one of the toughest decisions of his life to make heading into the momentous derby clash.
Does he stick with the safe game plan and play defensively, hoping to shut England’s talented attacking players down to then catch them on the break?
Or does he risk selecting some more offensive-minded players of his own, the likes of Billy Gilmour, David Turnbull and Nathan Patterson, in a bid to ruffle English feathers in their own back yard and put the pressure on Gareth Southgate’s much-fancied side?
In truth former St Mirren and Chelsea defender Clarke picked the former in that galling opening day defeat to the Czech Republic.
Robbed of our best defender Kieran Tierney through injury before a ball was even kicked, the team selection put far too much emphasis on staying solid than on taking the game to the visitors.
Because let’s face it, at the end of the day that was a winnable home tie for the Scots at Hampden Park on Monday afternoon.
Instead of partnering striker Lyndon Dykes with Che Adams, who has already proved he is one of our technically most gifted forwards available in a dark blue shirt, he decided to go with midfielder Ryan Christie - on the back of a disappointing campaign with Celtic.
In defence he stuck with Stephen O’Donnell at right wing-back, despite his lack of attacking intent, with Hoops star James Forrest and Rangers prospect Patterson both watching on from the sidelines as the Czech’s built up a two-goal lead.
In midfield he handed Scott McTominay a holding role, when he would have been much better suited to being back on the right hand side of the back three where he could push forward and break the lines as he has so effectively in recent Scotland games.
The harsh truth is that in the game we had the best chance of winning out of all three of our group matches, Clarke played it safe and ultimately we fell short.
It’s so easy in hindsight to be a genius, and as already alluded to our luck was out as it so often is on the big occasions.
But at the end of the day we didn’t go and try to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
The huge question now is, with a draw required from one of our next two games, do you risk going gung-ho and attacking England on their own patch or stack the defence and midfield and hope to stifle our oldest rivals.
It’s an absolutely massive decision for Clarke, and I sincerely hope whichever he plumps for, we’re still left in with a chance of qualifying for the last-16 come Saturday morning.
And who knows, if we play to our potential maybe, just maybe, we’ll send them homewards to think again.
