Sven-Goran Eriksson has just over two weeks to transform the shambolic England team routed 4-1 by Denmark into a side worthy of a place at the World Cup finals.
The England manager could only watch in disbelief as a side, which prides itself on slick passing, movement off the ball and discipline simply failed to turn up for Wednesday's friendly in the Parken Stadium.
England have a game in hand on Group Six leaders Poland, but the two-point gap that needs to be bridged in their last four qualifying games leaves little or no margin for error.
Wales and Northern Ireland, who host England's next qualifiers in Cardiff and Belfast on September 3 and 7 respectively, would be delighted if the misplaced passes and inept defending continue.
The scale of the debacle, which inflicted England's heaviest defeat for a quarter of a century, could not have been predicted.
Conceding three goals in seven minutes may not raise eyebrows in Andorra or San Marino but it is not the performance of a side who believe they could become world champions.
Yet the signs that England's mind was not on the job in hand became clear in the first few minutes when defender Rio Ferdinand, completely unchallenged, hoofed the ball away for a Danish corner from about 25 metres out.
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Defoe was picked ahead of Michael Owen because the Real Madrid striker, who came on for the start of the second half, is suspended for the qualifier in Cardiff.
Why Defoe and Rooney were not given longer together, though, is a mystery.
Of the 16 who got to play over the 90 minutes, only 19-year-old Wayne Rooney lived up to his reputation, though captain David Beckham deserved six marks out of 10 for effort.
Rooney charged at the Danish defence from every position and tackled as if his life depended on it. His reward was a disallowed goal, a penalty appeal turned down and finally a consolation strike in the 87th minute.
LITTLE REDEMPTION
For the rest, particularly in the second half after a rash of six substitutions, there was little or no redemption.
Substitute keeper David James may well have played his last game for England after charging out to tackle Jon Dahl Tomasson, his rashness gifting Dennis Rommedahl a tap-in for Denmark's opener.
Dropped by Eriksson after his antics cost England two points in a 2-2 qualifying draw in Austria last September, James now has no realistic of chance of deposing Paul Robinson.
Glen Johnson, who replaced Gary Neville at right back, cannot expect play in the remaining qualifiers after his display, while Joe Cole hardly cemented his place in the problem role of the left flank.
Clearly, England do not enjoy friendlies.
A team beaten only twice in competitive games during Eriksson's four and a half years in charge have now lost seven times on friendly duty.
With 10 of the 11 starting places guaranteed -- the exception being Cole -- there is no battle for a place in the team. There is, however, a very real need to avoid injury ahead of domestic and Champions League action at club level.
Add a complete lack of cohesion and the recipe for what Eriksson described as a disaster was complete.
"We are strong because we are good footballers but also because we work for each other -- and we didn't do that in the second half," the Swede lamented.
With Wales and Northern Ireland waiting in the wings, Owen summed up the feelings of many when he pointed to England's one consolation on what was a humiliating evening in Copenhagen.
"Thank God it wasn't a qualifying game."
