England vs Montenegro 11/10/13

[Royalclapper]

It's looking more like Montenegro captain Mirko Vucinic could actually be injured and missing the game rather than it being the usual mind games as is so often the case with star players being allegedly injured only to play when match day arrives. Ashley Cole out for England shouldn't be a great problem with Baines coming in.

You'd have thought that the other Countries in Group H will be expecting England to top the group now and will have half an eye on the possible 2nd place play off spot. Ukraine are looking good for the second place being as they have a home game against Poland and finish away in San Marino. Montenegro also have a kind last game at home to Moldova but they'll probably need something from Friday's game at Wembley to finish ahead of Ukraine (unless Ukraine have a disaster against the Poles).

This should be a win for England as should next Tuesday's game against the Poles - let's face it, if England don't get through with having two home games then we don't deserve to go and will end up a massive laughing stock.

[Brum Royal]

I reckon we'll just about have enough to squeeze past both Montenegro and Poland so will top the group. Ukraine, as you say, with two relative straight forward games should finish second.

[soggy biscuit]

This should be a win for England

I would like to refer the gentleman back to numerous results over the past 20 years

[LUX]

England v Poland with us needing a win to go through is an unnerving flashback to 40 years ago (almost to the day)

[Pepe the Horseman]

I remember it well.

[Barry the bird boggler]

Didn't we have something like 30 goal attempts that night so you could say we were unlucky to a degree. Somehow I can't see us getting even a quarter of that many chances next week.

[just some bloke]

This should be a win for England as should next Tuesday's game against the Poles - let's face it, if England don't get through with having two home games then we don't deserve to go and will end up a massive laughing stock.

I can see the Montenegro game being a draw, and I'm not much more optimistic for the Poland game. 4 points from the two games maybe? Where would that put us, second probably?

[Schards#2]

This should be a win for England as should next Tuesday's game against the Poles - let's face it, if England don't get through with having two home games then we don't deserve to go and will end up a massive laughing stock.

I can see the Montenegro game being a draw, and I'm not much more optimistic for the Poland game. 4 points from the two games maybe? Where would that put us, second probably?

^^this

Ukraine beat Poland
England draw with Montenegro
Ukraine beat San marino
Montenegro beat Moldova
England beat Poland (who are mathematically out at this stage)

Group finishes

Ukraine
England
Montenegro
Poland

[6ft Kerplunk]

I'm expecting us to put Johnny Foreigner firmly back in his box with two convincing 6-0 wins and to go into teh Finals next year as overwhelming favourites. Or a couple of dull as oxf*rd 1-0 and a large dose of

[TBM]

What happens if we beat Monty tomorrow and Poland beat Ukraine

What do we then need to win the group?

[Sanguine]

What happens if we beat Monty tomorrow and Poland beat Ukraine

What do we then need to win the group?

Not lose to Poland. Even then we could still top the group if Ukraine don't beat San Marino by enough.

But I can't see Poland winning in Ukraine.

[LUX]

hang on, Cmonurz,under TBN's scenario Ukraine could not catch us whatever happens in the last games.

[LUX]

a draw for Ukraine v Poland is very possible, and would be excellent for us.

[TBM]

hang on, Cmonurz,under TBN's scenario Ukraine could not catch us whatever happens in the last games.

I want this then ^^

I've got footy training Tuesday and don't wanna be missing an important decider

[Maguire]

Reckon we'll win both of them tbh.

[Sanguine]

hang on, Cmonurz,under TBN's scenario Ukraine could not catch us whatever happens in the last games.

This is true.

In TBM's scenario we could lose to Poland and still go through, as long as they didn't overhaul our GD.

[Sanguine]

Group E peaks my interest a bit, because I like 'new' teams doing well in qualifying.

Iceland look in good shape for a play off place. They should beat Cyrpus at home, which would leave them needing to win in Norway to secure second spot. But Norway have to win in Slovenia to even get to that point, and if Slovenia win, they'll need to at least a draw at group leaders Switzerland to overhaul the Icelanders.

Similar situation in group D - Hungary currently in second and play Andorra on Friday. They may go to Romania just needing to avoid defeat to qualify, assuming Netherlands do them a favour and beat Turkey in their final game.

Group C - Friday is the decider, probably. Austria go to Sweden and need a win to go second in the group, before they play the Faroes in their last match.

Group B – Armenia can still mathematically do it. They need a huge result on Friday, a home win over Bulgaria, and with the Czechs in Malta, would likely see four teams within a point of each other going into the final fixtures.

[Platypuss]

Group E peaks my interest a bit.

Piques

[Sanguine]

Ta.

[Ouroboros]

Keeping an eye on group G for the same reason. After falling agonisingly short twice in the past, beaten by Portugal in a play-off on both occasions, Bosnia-Herzegovina look good to secure their first appearance at a major tournament. For a country of less than £4m people and with not a lot of money, a crop of players that includes Dzeko, Pjanic, Begovic and Ibisevic is good going, and this might very well be their last chance for some time.

It all looked a bit dicey last month when they were beaten at home by Slovakia and Greece drew level at the top of the table. They played Slovakia again 4 days later and were behind at half time but turned it around to win 2-1 and leave the relatively simple task of winning at home to Liechtenstein and away to Lithuania to guarantee automatic qualification. Greece host Slovakia tomorrow knowing a defeat will essentially end their hopes of top spot.

Edin Dzeko has scored twice as many goals in the group of anyone from any other side.

I think we've endured quite enough of Greece at major tournaments now.