ENGLAND V MONTENEGRO
StrumSolo > 10/10/2013, 18:08
Glenn Hoddle says we should forget about winning the World Cup next year and use it as an opportunity to give our younger players tournament experience. I can't work out if he's being pessimistic with such a suggestion or overly optimistic in assuming that we'll even be there.
We should make it of course. Two home games against middling opposition, and we go in to them top of the group. A couple of wins and it's time to book those flights to Brazil...
We've only won half of our qualifying games so far though. Joe Hart's looking a liability and won't be dropped. Glen Johnson's injured and Kyle Walker looks shaky. Theo Walcott's absence means James Milner is likely to feature heavily, and that's got draw written all over it, twice.
On the plus side, Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney are back in contention after missing the September internationals and should start against Montenegro tomorrow night. Roy Hodgson hasn't had any withdrawals to deal with this week either. Johnson, Cole and Walcott aside, England are at full strength.
Montenegro haven't had it so easy. Juventus striker and captain Mirko Vucinic is out, as are goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic, centre-back Marko Basa and midfielder Miodrag Pekovic. Stevan Jovetic is raring to go though, let's hope he hasn't sussed Hart out too much in their Man City training sessions together.
Kick-off is at 8pm tomorrow night.
Predictions?