"Scott is a fantastic keeper and also a young keeper and, although he will be disappointed with Wednesday, I've trained and played with him every day and I know just how good he is," said Crouch.
"I am sure he will be an England number one in a few years to come.
"Hopefully people don't get on his back too much. I wouldn't wish fans turning on him. He is a great lad and a fantastic keeper.
"It wasn't just him. Over the course of the qualifying campaign there have been mistakes and we have to look at ourselves as a team as a whole.
"I wouldn't say it was a risk to play him. Like I said, I've trained with him, I've seen how good he is and he is a fantastic 'keeper. He has made mistakes but he is young."
