England
take on Montenegro this evening knowing only a win will do in their quest to
reach the World Cup finals next year.
A
decisive double-header awaits Roy Hodgson’s men against tricky opposition in
the shape of the Montenegrins and Tuesday’s foes Poland, with maximum points required
in order to make it mathematically impossible to be caught by closest rivals Ukraine
in Group H.
Hodgson
will be thankful that he can count on a clean bill of health going into tonight’s
clash, having lost Ashley Cole to a rib injury before squad training began.
Everton’s in-form left-back Leighton Baines is likely to take his place in the
starting line-up, with Kieran Gibbs acting as back-up.
Aside
from that, the predatory Daniel Sturridge regains his squad place after missing
out on the last round of qualification matches with a thigh strain. The
Liverpool star’s return hands the manager a dilemma as to how much attacking
intent he wishes his side to portray at Wembley; does he plump for three
out-and-out strikers, a tandem up-top or play his cards more conservatively?
The
good news – if it’s to be believed – surrounds stylish forward Mirko Vucinic’s inability
to feature through a knock picked up on Champions League duty for Juventus,
which would be a huge boost for the home side but a bitter blow for the
visitors. Others expected to be unavailable to Montenegro coach Branko Brnovic include
goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic, defender Marko Basa and midfield player Miodrag
Pekovic.
Lying
one point clear of Ukraine and Montenegro, the English can seal their spot in
Brazil with successive victories over the coming days. However, Montenegro held
up well against England in past meetings and Poland are no pushovers. It’d be a
massive disappointment should the Three Lions end up in a play-off or worse, making
it imperative the men tasked with gaining the results Hodgson desperately seeks
perform when it really matters.
Let’s
hope England avoid any more astonishing embarrassments such as their
demoralising failures in the run up to the USA World Cup of 1994 and Euro 2008.
Crunch time is upon the nation and the finest footballers in the land must
deliver the goods, despite the weight of expectation on their shoulders.
Twitter: @davewh1980
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