As requested by Darn, welcome to the match thread for the World Cup qualifier between Montenegro and England at Podgorica City Stadium, Tuesday 26th March 2013, kick off 20:00 GMT.
Roy Hodgson's side come into this qualifying match off the back of an assured performance against San Marino on Friday night which saw the Three Lions triumph by a massive 8 goals to nil.
In a group that features potential banana skins such as Poland and Ukraine, opponents Montenegro have surprised a few people by topping the table at this current halfway stage.
Despite the Rio Ferdinand saga overshadowing this international break, England will be buoyed by Fridays romp and confidence in the camp will be high. Whilst Roy Hodgson is keeping his cards close to his chest at the moment regarding team selection, expect something along the lines of...
GK Hart
RB Johnson
LB Baines / Cole
CB Smalling
CB Lescott
LM Young
RM Oxlade-Chamberlain
CM Carrick
CM Gerrard (C)
CF Rooney
ST Welbeck
Opposition: Montenegro
Coach: Branko Brnovic
FIFA Ranking: 28th
Population: 625,000
Key Player: Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina) - 10 goals in 21 caps illustrate what kind of problem Jovetic could cause for England. The 23 year old started his career with Partizan before Fiorentina paid £8million for his services in 2008. Nicknamed "Jo-Jo", Jovetic has recently been linked with a move to the Premier League, with Manchester City, Arsenal & Liverpool rumoured to be interested in the 6' 1" forward.
Did you know......
That the name Montenegro in Montenegrin literally translates to ‘Black Mountain’? The name was likely given to the country because of thick black forests that graced its lands during the medieval times.
Head-to-Head record against our opponents:
P2 W0 D2 L0 F2 A2
Previous meeting: Montenegro 2 England 2 (EURO 2012 Qualification)
England qualified for Euro 2012 after securing a 2-2 draw against Montenegro, but in truth it was a mixed evening for the Three Lions as they gave away a two-goal lead with Wayne Rooney receiving a straight red card.
England had led through early goals from Ashley Young and Darren Bent, but were pegged back just before half-time.
Rooney's dismissal in the 73rd minute for lashing out at Dzudovic proved costly as Montenegro then gained total control of the game, and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 91st minute.
Champagne SuperNovak's prediction: Montenegro 1 England 1
I expect a tough game in front of a notoriously hostile atmosphere. England must remain focused for the full 90 minutes to stand any chance of avoiding an upset, and it will be imperative that we try our best to nullify the attacking threat of both Jovetic & Vučinić.
Montenegro v England Match Thread
posted on 27/3/13
makes you wonder if the players are just thinking ' the boss told me not too go mad playing for England, conserve a bit of energy for saturday, don't do silly tackles and get injured...'
What's holding them back ?
Something is...over coached or have their heads filled with too much tactical stuff...play in the hole on the right...drop back and cover the full back and don't get caught upfield..
who thinks up all this stuff..
When Monte Negro equalised they had 6 men in our box, we had 10...and the scramble that preceded the goal was our own players getting in each others way...
You couldn't make it up
At least you can see where Town get it from now...
Wonder when the FA coaching school will wake up..
I think that was the worst 45 minutes I've ever seen an England team play....it would be comical if I weren't so angry about it... .
posted on 27/3/13
Would and could Brazil be the first modern world cup in which we have no representatives from the British Isles ?
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No. USA 94 had no UK teams.....unless we're counting Ireland as a home nation given that their team was pretty much full of Englishmen with Irish grandmas. Who will ever forget Ray Houghton v Italy, Andy Townsend going blonde and John Aldridge introducing the word "tw-t" to a prime time audience
posted on 27/3/13
Can't stand the ROI, Like Champers says full of English or Scotsmen who's granny had an irish cat 500 years previously!
posted on 27/3/13
I once had a pint of guinness and I enjoy the "craic" as much as the next bloke, I therefore qualify to play for ROI....I also believe that two ticket stubs from any of the "Riverdance" shows also counts as a qualification...
dreaming of being "naked" with all 3 sisters from the "Corrs" will be accepted as a part qualification
as long as you "never ever" say "potato" using a silly irish accent...
The Scottish qualification rules are on similar lines except you then have to promise to "never, ever visit the country(unless for a full international- friendlies can be left to the bit part pros from Hibernian and other no mark-teams) and certainly never, ever play your football for a Scottish Club side"...
posted on 27/3/13
I qualify for Ireland as my Nanna is from Athlone. I always keep an eye on them and Celtic because of the family connections. But the qualification criteria is still guff.
posted on 27/3/13
My late Gran was a Giblin from Dublin...
So , I'm in
posted on 27/3/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 27/3/13
I wasn't sh-it...I played for the Shoulder of Mutton at Lockwood !!
posted on 27/3/13
Exactly my point!
posted on 27/3/13