 |
| Play poker at 888poker! |
England will be looking to confirm their place in next summer’s European Championships when they take on Montenegro in a potential Group G decider.
The Stadion Pod Goricom in Podgorica is expected to be a scene of triumph as Fabio Capello’s men seek to officially seal their place in Euro 2012.
Currently sitting at the summit of Group G on 17 points – six ahead of their rivals come Friday, England need only a solitary point to ensure top spot and thus automatic qualification from an admittedly easy group.
The Three Lions have yet to lose a match during their group peregrination and have netted 15 times whilst only conceding 3, whereas their hosts have found the net just five times in six outings although in a potentially hostile environment such form may count as little come kick-off.
Minus Rio Ferdinand, England look set to hand a starting berth to Manchester United defender Phil Jones with the defensive-minded duo of Scott Parker and Gareth Barry shielding a tight defence.
A point will do it, however, coach Fabio Capello has left his players in no doubt of what he expects from them come Friday.
“We are going to win this game, not [play] for the draw,” he told the press before the match.
“If you play for a draw it is a big mistake. You are not focused on the game. You are playing to defend the result.
“When you do that you make some silly mistakes. You need to play the same style as all the other away games,” the Italian added.
Clearly the favourites as well as the standout team, Capello will be keen to squash any notion of complacency especially upon reminder that the last meeting between the two sides ended in a poor goalless draw at Wembley.
As per usual an apoplectic English sports press scathed about the performance, but the feeling heading into Montenegro is that should (indeed when) England emerge victorious, it will be all roads leading to Ukraine/Poland as the true hard work begins in earnest.
Likely Line-Ups:
Montenegro: Bozovic, Pavicevic, Dzudovic, Jovanovic, Savic, Vukcevic, Pekovic, Novakovic, Djalovic, Vucinic, Jovetic.
England: Hart, Richards, Terry, Jones, Cole, Parker, Lampard, Barry, Rooney, Bent, Young.
Prediction: Montenegro 1-2 England.
The hosts need to need to win their two remaining games to leapfrog their visitors in Group G but, the feeling across the city is that things have already set and Friday will see England book their place at Euro 2012 at last.
Related posts:
-
Maccasports
-
http://inthestands.co.uk/ Ash
