England look to parry off sticky nerves
11 Oct 2013 7:34 AM IST
England’s chances of securing automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil will be in the balance when they host Montenegro in their penultimate qualifying match on Friday.
Whereas victory at Wembley Stadium will preserve their place at the top of Group H ahead of next week’s final game at home to Poland, anything less could dash their hopes of qualifying automatically.
England go into the game a point ahead of Ukraine and Montenegro, but should Roy Hodgson’s men fail to win and the Ukrainians prevail at home to Poland, it is they who would take over at the summit.
With Ukraine completing their campaign away to perennial punching bags San Marino, who have lost all eight of their games, conceding 43 goals, such a scenario would almost certainly consign England to the play-offs, provided they were not pipped to second place by Montenegro.
An added source of concern for England is that, in their eight games to date, they have only managed to beat Moldova and San Marino, the pool’s two weakest teams. Their last meeting with Montenegro, in Podgorica in March, ended in a 1-1 draw and striker Wayne Rooney has urged his team-mates not to get flustered if they are unable to make an early breakthrough on Friday. ‘They are organised and hard to beat, they put a lot of men behind the ball and try and contain you,’ said the Manchester United striker.
‘We have to make sure we are patient and try to create the chances that could lead to us scoring goals. ‘I think if we can get that first goal in the first half, then the game will open up. That first goal is vital.’
England manager Hodgson has insisted that he is looking no further than his side’s next two games, despite the looming possibility of a first major qualification failure since Euro 2008.
Spain, Germany out to secure Brazil WC berth
BERLIN: Coach Joachim Loew has said he wants Germany to be ‘greedy’ against the Republic of Ireland in Friday’s World Cup qualifier to finally secure their Brazil 2014 berth.
‘We’re greedy, we want to win the game before a home crowd and secure our qualification,’ said Loew.
‘I have fond memories of the compact Cologne stadium and we want to qualify as group winners without questions or discussions.’ Germany are five points clear in Group C, needing just a point in Cologne to guarantee their place at next June’s World Cup.
Ireland are fourth in the group under caretaker manager Noel King after Italian great Giovanni Trapattoni’s resignation last month after his side’s qualification hopes went up in flames.
World champions Spain can move to the brink of qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil when they host Belarus in Mallorca on Friday.
Vicente del Bosque’s men need just four points from their two remaining qualifiers to seal an automatic place at the finals with the meeting against the side ranked 80th in the world followed by the visit of Georgia to Albacete on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see who plays.
Whereas victory at Wembley Stadium will preserve their place at the top of Group H ahead of next week’s final game at home to Poland, anything less could dash their hopes of qualifying automatically.
England go into the game a point ahead of Ukraine and Montenegro, but should Roy Hodgson’s men fail to win and the Ukrainians prevail at home to Poland, it is they who would take over at the summit.
With Ukraine completing their campaign away to perennial punching bags San Marino, who have lost all eight of their games, conceding 43 goals, such a scenario would almost certainly consign England to the play-offs, provided they were not pipped to second place by Montenegro.
An added source of concern for England is that, in their eight games to date, they have only managed to beat Moldova and San Marino, the pool’s two weakest teams. Their last meeting with Montenegro, in Podgorica in March, ended in a 1-1 draw and striker Wayne Rooney has urged his team-mates not to get flustered if they are unable to make an early breakthrough on Friday. ‘They are organised and hard to beat, they put a lot of men behind the ball and try and contain you,’ said the Manchester United striker.
‘We have to make sure we are patient and try to create the chances that could lead to us scoring goals. ‘I think if we can get that first goal in the first half, then the game will open up. That first goal is vital.’
England manager Hodgson has insisted that he is looking no further than his side’s next two games, despite the looming possibility of a first major qualification failure since Euro 2008.
Spain, Germany out to secure Brazil WC berth
BERLIN: Coach Joachim Loew has said he wants Germany to be ‘greedy’ against the Republic of Ireland in Friday’s World Cup qualifier to finally secure their Brazil 2014 berth.
‘We’re greedy, we want to win the game before a home crowd and secure our qualification,’ said Loew.
‘I have fond memories of the compact Cologne stadium and we want to qualify as group winners without questions or discussions.’ Germany are five points clear in Group C, needing just a point in Cologne to guarantee their place at next June’s World Cup.
Ireland are fourth in the group under caretaker manager Noel King after Italian great Giovanni Trapattoni’s resignation last month after his side’s qualification hopes went up in flames.
World champions Spain can move to the brink of qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil when they host Belarus in Mallorca on Friday.
Vicente del Bosque’s men need just four points from their two remaining qualifiers to seal an automatic place at the finals with the meeting against the side ranked 80th in the world followed by the visit of Georgia to Albacete on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see who plays.
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